Porcine E-selectin

ABSTRACT

A porcine E-selectin protein, its amino acid sequence, the sequence of a cDNA encoding the protein, antibodies reactive with the protein, and methods for the use of these molecules are disclosed. The molecules are used to diagnose the rejection of xenotransplanted pig organs, as well as to prevent and treat such transplant rejection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to xenotransplantation, and to the monitoring and modulation of the immune response to the xenotransplant. More specifically, the invention relates to the development of reagents and methods that will improve the ability to rapidly and specifically diagnose rejection of porcine xenotransplants by human patients. The invention also relates to compositions, including nucleic acid molecules, proteins (including antibodies), porcine cells, porcine tissues, and porcine organs, that will improve the outcome of the xenotransplantation of porcine cells, tissues, and organs into human recipients. To this end the invention provides a porcine E-selectin protein, its amino acid sequence, the sequence of a cDNA encoding the protein, antibodies reactive with the protein, and methods for the use of these molecules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Xenotransplant Rejection: There is an ongoing shortage of human organs for transplant. This shortage has resulted in a long felt need for organs, and has resulted in attempts to develop xenotransplantation technology.

The primary non-primate candidate donor species for clinical xenotransplantation (e.g., the transplantation of non-human organs into human recipients) has been the pig. Swine provide an abundant supply of organs that are similar in size, anatomy, and physiology to their human counterparts (Auchincloss, 1988; Najarian, 1992; and Somervile and d'Apice, 1993). Transplantation of porcine pancreatic islets and of a pig liver into human patients has been reported, (Makowka, et al., 1993; Satake, et al., 1993; Tibell, et al., 1993), but the outcomes of these transplants need to be improved. One improvement that is needed is better control (e.g., inhibition) of transplant rejection.

The rejection of transplanted organs may involve both an extremely rapid hyperacute rejection (HAR) phase and a slower cellular rejection phase. HAR of discordant (i.e., non-primate) xenotransplants is initiated by preformed "natural" antibodies that bind to donor organ endothelium and activate complement attack by the recipient immune system (Dalmasso, et al., 1992; and Tuso, et al., 1993).

Activation of complement leads to the generation of fluid phase (C3a, C5a) and membrane bound (C3b and C5b-9, i.e., C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9) proteins with chemotactic, procoagulant, proinflammatory, adhesive, and cytolytic properties (Muler-Eberhard, 1988). Immunohistological analysis of hyperacutely rejected xenotransplants reveals antibody deposition, complement fixation, and vascular thrombosis as well as neutrophil infiltration (Zehr, et al., 1994; Auchincloss, 1988; Najarian, 1992; Somervile and d'Apice, 1993; and Mejia-Laguna, et al., 1972).

While HAR is a major impediment to the xenotransplantation of vascularized organs, some discordantly xenotransplanted tissues (e.g., porcine pancreatic islets) do not appear to be rejected by this mechanism. Methods for the control of the HAR are also available. These include interference with the antibody antigen reactions responsible for initiating the HAR response, either by removing the antibodies from the circulation or by interfering with the expression of the antigens (see copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/214,580, entitled "Xenotransplantation Therapies" and filed by Mauro S. Sandrin and Ian F. C. McKenzie on Mar. 15, 1994). Inhibition of complement attack on the xenotransplant may be accomplished by several means, including the use of complement inhibitors such as the 18 kDa C5b-9 inhibitory protein and monoclonal antibodies against human C5b-9 proteins as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,916, issued Aug. 4, 1992.

In order to better understand the porcine xenograft rejection phenomenon, studies have been undertaken to investigate interactions between human white blood cells and porcine cells, particularly porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC). The role of neutrophils in the actual destruction of xenografts has not been well characterized, and the precise mechanism of complement independent neutrophil activation and adherence to xenograft endothelium has heretofore been unknown.

Previous studies have shown that human complement component C3b (C3bi) deposited on PAEC mediates the binding of human neutrophils to the PAEC through interactions with the heterodimeric neutrophil cell surface receptor CD11b/CD18 (Vercellotti, et al., 1991). Furthermore, blocking HAR by inhibition or depletion of complement results in decreased neutrophil infiltration and increased xenograft survival, providing additional evidence for the role of complement in mediating human neutrophil binding to porcine endothelium.

However, a significant neutrophil infiltrate into PAEC monolayers has been observed even in the absence of complement activation (Leventhal, et al., 1993; and Pruitt, et al., 1991). The development of such infiltrates is believed to play an important role in xenograft rejection. Means and methods allowing the control or elimination of such interactions are thus needed in order to make the transplantation of porcine cells, tissues, or organs into human recipients more practicable.

E-selectin: E-selectin (also known as ELAM-1, CD62, and CD62E) is a cytokine inducible cell surface glycoprotein cell adhesion molecule that is found exclusively on endothelial cells. E-selectin mediates the adhesion of various leukocytes, including neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of T cells, to activated endothelium (Bevilacqua, et al., 1989; Shimuzu, et al., 1991; Graber, et al., 1990; Carlos, et al., 1991; Hakkert, et al., 1991; and Picker, et al., 1991). The expression of E-selectin is induced on human endothelium in response to the cytokines IL-1 and TNFα, as well as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), through transcriptional upregulation (Montgomery, et al., 1991).

Recently, the human leukocyte receptor for human E-selectin has been identified (Berg, et al., 1991 and Tyrrell, et al., 1991). This receptor contains sialic acid (sialyl Lewis x, and sialyl Lewis a) as a necessary component for interaction with the E-selectin protein.

Structurally, E-selectin belongs to a family of adhesion molecules termed "selectins" that also includes P-selectin and L-selectin (see reviews in Lasky, 1992 and Bevilacqua and Nelson, 1993). These molecules are characterized by common structural features such as an amino-terminal lectin-like domain, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain, and a discrete number of complement repeat modules (approximately 60 amino acids each) similar to those found in certain complement binding proteins.

Clinically, increased E-selectin expression on endothelium is associated with a variety of acute and chronic leukocyte-mediated inflammatory reactions including allograft rejection (Allen, et al., 1993; Brockmeyer, et al., 1993; Ferran, et al., 1993; and Taylor, et al., 1992). Other leukocyte-mediated inflammatory reactions associated with increased E-selectin expression on endothelium include delayed type hypersensitivity, immune complex-mediated lung injury, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis (Bevilacqua, et al., 1989; Bevilacqua and Nelson, 1993; Cotran, et al., 1L986; Koch, et al., 1991; Mulligan, et al., 1991; and Mulligan, et al., 1993).

Studies in which the expression of human E-selectin in cardiac and renal allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection was investigated have demonstrated that E-selectin expression is selectively upregulated in vascular endothelium of renal and cardiac tissue during acute rejection (Allen, et al., 1993; Brockmeyer, et al., 1993; Ferran, et al., 1993; and Taylor, et al., 1992). Additionally, increased E-selectin expression correlates with the early course of cellular rejection and corresponds to the migration of inflammatory cells into the graft tissue (Allen, et al., 1993; Brockmeyer, et al., 1993; Ferran, et al., 1993; and Taylor, et al., 1992). Taken together, these studies provide evidence that cytokine-induced expression of E-selectin by donor organ endothelium contributes to the binding and subsequent transmigration of inflammatory cells into the graft tissue and thereby plays an important role in acute cellular allograft rejection.

Endothelial cells have been shown to release a soluble form of E-selectin following in vitro activation (Pigott, et al., 1992; Newman, et al., 1993; and Leeuwenberg, et al., 1992). The demonstration of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in the blood would therefore be taken as conclusive evidence of endothelial activation (Gearing and Newman, 1993). Table I shows the levels of sE-selectin found in healthy and sick patients in various studies, as reviewed in Gearing and Newman, 1993.

Elevated levels of sE-selectin have been found in diabetic patients independent of hypertension, nephropathy or renal failure, and whether or not they were insulin dependent (Gearing, et al., 1992 and Gearing and Newman, 1993). Similarly, sE-selectin was detected in patients with vasculidities including polyarteritis nodosum, giant cell arteritis, and scleroderma, with higher levels noted in lupus patients. Overall, however, there was no correlation with disease activity and only a weak correlation with the degree of organ involvement (Carson, et al., 1993). These studies suggest that the endothelium in these patients is activated, and that overt disease activity involves additional factors.

Soluble E-selectin levels have also shown marked elevations in sepsis, in one study a twenty-fold increase over the normal range (Newman, et al., 1993). In this and another study, the levels of sE-selectin appear to correlate with disease severity and/or outcome (Gearing and Newman, 1993). Higher levels or persistent elevation were associated with greater mortality and this is not unexpected in view of the widespread expression of E-selectin in most vessels in primates challenged with a lethal dose of live E. Coli (Redi, et al., 1991). Gram-negative as well as gram-positive infections seem to be associated with elevated levels. Patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria have also shown elevated levels of sE-selectin (Hviid, et al., 1994, reviewed in Gearing and Newman, 1993).

There are two reports of sE-selectin in body fluids other than blood. One is from Dubois, et al., who detected sE-selectin in bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from 16/50 patients with interstitial lung disease, but in only 2/16 control samples (Dubois, et al., unpublished, cited in Gearing and Newman, 1993). In the second, sE-selectin was recovered from BAL fluids of allergic subjects after segmental antigen challenge, but not saline challenge (Georas, et al., 1992).

Soluble E-selectin found in the blood is biologically active when measured by its ability to mediate adhesion of neutrophils to a surface. In the fluid-phase, recombinant soluble E-selectin can inhibit leukocyte adhesion (Lobb, et al., 1991). Furthermore, recombinant E-selectin, in either soluble or cell-surface bound forms, can activate the polymorphonuclear cell CD11b integrin receptor (Lo, et al., 1991 and Kuijpers, et al., 1991). The levels required for these effects are not found in the bloodstream, however such levels may be found at local sites of inflammation.

The mechanism of release of soluble E-selectin in vivo has not been established, but immunochemical evidence suggests a lost or defective cytoplasmic domain in the soluble E-selectin found in plasma. Unlike certain other cellular adhesion molecules, E-selectin does not appear to have an alternately spliced form lacking a transmembrane domain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing state of the art, it is an object of this invention to prevent and/or treat xenograft rejection of porcine organs, tissues, or cells through modulation of E-selectin mediated cell adhesion, and to provide a means for diagnostic monitoring of xenotransplant rejection by specific measurement of the amount of porcine E-selectin in the blood of the porcine xenotransplant recipient.

To achieve these and other goals, the invention provides:

1) An isolated porcine E-selectin protein including a core protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth as amino acids 1 to 405 of SEQ ID NO:9. In addition to the core protein, such a porcine E-selectin protein may contain a membrane anchor sequence located carboxyl terminal to amino acid 405 of SEQ ID NO:9. Alternatively, the protein may be truncated. Examples of such truncated proteins include those that do not include the membrane anchor. For example, the protein may terminate at or near amino acid 405 of SEQ ID NO:9.

2) A porcine E-selectin gene, in the form of, for example, cDNA and genomic DNA molecules comprising porcine E-selectin coding sequences.

3) A method for producing porcine E-selectin by growing a recombinant host cell containing the gene of the invention (i.e., a nucleic acid molecule coding for porcine E-selectin). The host cell is grown so that it expresses the porcine E-selectin protein encoded by the gene of the invention and the expressed porcine E-selectin protein is then isolated.

4) Anti porcine E-selectin antibodies that bind to porcine E-selectin, but not to human E-selectin.

5) Therapeutic agents and methods for their use for the prevention and/or treatment of porcine xenograft rejection. These agents contain the E-selectin protein of paragraph 1, immediately above, and/or the anti-porcine E-selectin antibodies of paragraph 4, immediately above.

6) Agents for the diagnosis of porcine xenograft rejection based upon the anti-porcine E-selectin antibodies of paragraph 4, immediately above.

7) Methods for disrupting the porcine E-selectin gene in porcine cells, and the E-selectin negative porcine cells generated via such methods.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, of course, that both the drawings and the description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Amino acid comparison and domain structure comparison of porcine and human E-selectin: The porcine (PO) E-selectin amino acid sequence was aligned to the sequence and domain structure of human (HU) E-selectin. Identical amino acids are denoted by an asterisk (*) and gaps are denoted with horizontal lines (-). Domains are denoted by the following abbreviations: Signal peptide, SP; Lectin Domain, Lec; Epidermal growth factor domain, EGF; Complement repeats, CR1-CR6; Transmembrane domain, TM; Cytoplasmic tail, CYT. As noted below, the complement repeats #1 and #4 are absent from porcine E-selectin.

FIGS. 2A-2B. Human neutrophils and HL-60 cells bind to human cytokine-induced PAEC: The binding of calcein-labeled human neutrophils (FIG. 2A) and HL-60 cells (FIG. 2B) to confluent monolayers of cytokine-induced PAEC was determined. Neutrophils and HL-60 cells were incubated in a control buffer (solid bars), treated with neuraminidase (hatched bars) or incubated in the presence of 10 μg/ml anti-LFA-1 (open bars) prior to addition to confluent monolayers of PAEC in 96 well plates. PAEC were incubated (37° C., 4hr) in either medium containing 25 ng/ml human TNFα (TNFα), 20 ng/ml human IL-1 (IL-1), or media alone (UNINDUCED), prior to the addition of human neutrophils or HL-60 cells. Cell binding was determined as described below under the heading "Materials and Methods". Error bars denote standard error of triplicate determinations from a single experiment and are representative of three so performed.

FIG. 3. Binding of human neutrophils and HL-60 cells to COS cells transfected with porcine E-selectin: The binding of calcein-labeled human neutrophils and HL-60 cells to confluent monolayers of either vector control transfected (CONTROL) or porcine E-selectin transfected (PORCINE E-SELECTIN) COS cells was determined. Prior to addition to COS cells, human neutrophils or HL-60 cells were incubated in control buffer or treated with neuraminidase as indicated. Cell binding was determined as described below under the heading "Materials and Methods". Error bars denote standard errors from triplicate determinations from a single experiment and are representative of two so performed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As discussed above, the present invention relates to the cell adhesion protein, E-selectin, and specifically to the porcine E-selectin molecule. The data presented in the examples set forth below demonstrate that human white blood cells bind to porcine endothelial cells via binding to porcine E-selectin. This binding interaction has significant implications for the outcome of xenotransplantation of porcine organs into human recipients, as such binding of white blood cells to endothelial cells is one of the first steps in the pathway leading to cell-mediated rejection of transplanted endothelial cells, and of vascularized tissues and organs containing such cells.

The discovery of porcine nucleic acid sequences encoding porcine E-selectin provides means to reduce the binding of human white blood cells to porcine endothelial cells, as discussed below. Such inhibition will reduce the frequency with which such porcine endothelial cells, and vascularized tissues and organs containing such cells, are rejected following xenotransplantation into human recipients.

In accordance with the invention, as described in the examples presented below, it has been determined that porcine E-selectin is encoded by the coding region of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9. In accordance with certain of its aspects, the invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, membrane bound and soluble porcine E-selectin proteins and protein fragments, and antibodies related to porcine E-selectin.

The isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention comprise sequences that are unique to the porcine genome. As used herein, the term "unique to the porcine genome" refers to sequences found in porcine-derived nucleic acid molecules that do not appear in published form as of the filing date of this application, e.g., they are not found in the cDNAs encoding the E-selectins of humans, cows, mice, or dogs.

The isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention comprise sense sequences of contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1. These sense sequences are unique to the porcine genome, and can be used as PCR primers or hybridization probes for the identification and/or isolation of the porcine E-selectin gene from cenomic DNA. Antisense sequences of contiguous nucleotides complementary to such sense sequences are also required in order to practice PCR, and may also be used as hybridization probes. In order to be used for such purposes, the sequences of contiguous nucleotides must span a sufficient length. The minimum oligonucleotide length required for specific hybridization (i.e., hybridization under conditions requiring an essentially perfect match of complementary nucleotides wherein the sequence of the probe can be expected to occur only once in the genome of the organism being probed) of both hybridization probes and PCR primers is well known in the art, and is discussed in, for example, Sambrook, et al, 1989, on pages 11.7-11.8. In practice, this span is at least 14 nucleotides, and, preferably, at least 18 nucleotides. Because at least 2 PCR primers are generally required to carry out a PCR reaction, the specificity of the PCR reaction is greater than that of each of the oligonucleotide primers used to drive the reaction.

Another isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention is a cloned porcine genomic DNA molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides unique to the porcine genome. This cloned molecule is characterized by hybridizing specifically to an isolated nucleic acid molecule as described in the preceding paragraph. Specific hybridization is used to clone this genomic DNA molecule. This cloning can be accomplished by several methods well known in the art such as by PCR using porcine genomic DNA templates, or by conventional screening of phage libraries of porcine genomic DNA, e.g., by plaque lift filter hybridization.

The isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention are also useful as means to direct and/or modulate the expression of porcine E-selectin in porcine cells, e.g., by altering the expression of the porcine E-selectin gene. Such modulation may be accomplished by several means well known in the art. Modulation, specifically inhibition, of the expression of any particular gene may be accomplished by the use of antisense nucleic acid molecules or DNA constructions specially engineered to allow gene inactivation as described below for antisense RNAs, antisense oligonucleotides, and gene knockout constructions. For the inhibition of the porcine E-selectin gene, the antisense nucleic acid molecules or DNA constructions will comprise nucleic acid sequences of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.

Antisense RNAs can be used to specifically inhibit gene expression (see, for example, Eguchi, et al., 1991). Such nucleic acid molecules can be expressed by recombinant transcription units engineered for expression in porcine cells. Such transcription units can be introduced as transgenes into porcine cells, and, when introduced into porcine embryos or embryonic stem cells can be used to generate transgenic pigs.

Antisense nucleic acid molecules in the form of oligonucleotides (including oligonuclotide analogs) and derivatives thereof can also be used to specifically inhibit gene expression, as described, for example, in Cohen, 1989. As described therein, antisense oligonucleotides can be designed and used to inhibit expression of specific genes (Cohen, 1989, pp. 1-6, 53-77).

Such antisense oligonucleotides can be in the form of oligonucleotide analogs, for example, phosphorothioate analogs (Cohen, 1989, pp. 97-117), non-ionic analogs (Cohen, 1989, pp. 79-95), and α-oligodeoxynucleotide analogs (Cohen, 1989, pp. 119-136). Derivatives of oligonucleotides that can be used to inhibit gene expression include oligonucleotides covalently linked to intercalating agents or to nucleic acid-cleaving agents (Cohen, 1989, pp. 137-172), and oligonucleotides linked to reactive groups (Cohen, 1989, pp. 173-196). Oligonucleotides and derivatives designed to recognize double-helical DNA by triple-helix formation (Cohen, 1989, pp. 197-210) may also be used to specifically inhibit gene expression.

All of the oligonucleotides and derivatives described above are used by adding them to the fluids bathing the cells in which specific inhibition of gene expression in accordance with the present invention is desired.

Another method by which the expression of specific genes can be inhibited is by genetic manipulations referred to in the art as "gene disruption" or "gene knockout." Gene knockout is a method of genetic manipulation via homologous recombination that has long been carried out in microorganisms, but has only been practiced in mammalian cells within the past decade. These techniques allow for the use of specially designed DNA molecules (gene knockout constructions) to achieve targeted inactivation (knockout) of a particular gene upon introduction of the construction into a cell. The practice of mammalian gene knockout, including the design of gene knockout constructions and the detection and selection of successfully altered mammalian cells, is discussed in numerous publications, including Thomas, et al., 1986; Thomas, et al., 1987; Jasin and Berg, 1988; Mansour, et al., 1988; Brinster, et al., 1989; Capecchi, 1989; Frohman and Martin, 1989; Hasty, et al., 1991; Jeannotte, et al., 1991; and Mortensen, et al., 1992.

Gene knockouts and gene replacements can be achieved in mammalian zygotes through microinjection techniques well known in the art (Brinster, et al., 1989). The introduction of the DNA constructions used to effect gene knockouts into cultured cells is a more common route to the production of knockout cells, tissues, and organs. In those cases where knockout tissues or organs are desired, cultured embryonic stem cells provide a means to introduce the DNA constructions into cells in culture and to generate transgenic animals derived from such engineered cells. Such animals can also be obtained from knockout transgenic zygotes obtained by microinjection as described above.

Thus, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are used to generate engineered transgenic animals using techniques known in the art. These techniques include, but are not limited to, microinjection, e.g., of pronuclei, electroporation of ova or zygotes, nuclear transplantation, and/or the stable transfection or transduction of embryonic stem cells.

The most well known method for making transgenic animals is that used to produce transgenic mice by superovulation of a donor female, surgical removal of the egg, injection of the transgene transcription unit into the pro-nuclei of the embryo, and introduction of the transgenic embryo into the reproductive tract of a pseudopregnant host mother, usually of the same species. See Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191, Brinster, et al., 1985, Hogan, et al., 1986, Robertson 1987, Pedersen, et al., 1990.

The use of this method to make transgenic livestock is also widely practiced by those of skill in the art. As an example, transgenic swine are routinely produced by the microinjection of nucleic acid molecules into pig embryos. See, for example, PCT Publication No. WO92/11757. In brief, this procedure may, for example, be performed as follows. First, the nucleic acid molecules are gel isolated and extensively purified, for example, through an ELUTIP column (Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, N.H.), dialyzed against pyrogen free injection buffer (10 nM Tris, pH7.4+0.1 mM EDTA in pyrogen free water), and used for embryo injection.

Embryos are recovered from the oviduct of a hormonally synchronized, ovulation induced sow, preferably at the pronuclear stage. They are placed into a 1.5 ml microfuge tube containing approximately 0.5 ml of embryo transfer media (phosphate buffered saline with 10% fetal calf serum). These are centrifuged for 12 minutes at 16,000 x g in a microcentrifuge. Embryos are removed from the microfuge tube with a drawn and polished Pasteur pipette and placed into a 35 mm petri dish for examination. If the cytoplasm is still opaque with lipid such that the pronuclei are not clearly visible, the embryos are centrifuged again for an additional 15 minutes.

Embryos to be microinjected are placed into a drop of media (approximately 100 μl) in the center of the lid of a 100 mm petri dish. Silicone oil is used to cover this drop and to fill the lid to prevent the medium from evaporating. The petri dish lid containing the embryos is set onto an inverted microscope equipped with both a heated stage (37.5°-38° C.) and Hoffman modulation contrast optics (200X final magnification). A finely drawn and polished micropipette is used to stabilize the embryos while about 1-2 picoliters of injection buffer containing approximately 200-500 copies of the purified transgene transcription unit is delivered into the nucleus, preferably the male pronucleus, with another finely drawn and polished micropipette. Embryos surviving the microinjection process as judged by morphological observation are loaded into a polypropylene tube (2 mm ID) for transfer into the recipient pseudopregnant sow.

Offspring are tested for the presence of the transgene by isolating genomic DNA, e.g., from tissue removed from the tail of each piglet, and subjecting about 5 micrograms of this genomic DNA to nucleic acid hybridization analysis with a transgene specific probe.

Another commonly used technique for generating transgenic animals involves the genetic manipulation of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) as described in PCT Patent Publication No. WO 93/02188 and Robertson, 1987. In accordance with this technique, ES cells are grown as described in, for example, Robertson, 1987, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,065 to Williams et al. Genetic material is introduced into the embryonic stem cells by, for example, electroporation according, for example, to the method of McMahon, et al., 1990, or by transduction with a retroviral vector according, for example, to the method of Robertson, et al., 1986, or by any of the various techniques described by Lovell-Badge, 1987.

Chimeric animals are generated as described, for example, in Bradley, 1987. Briefly, genetically modified ES cells are introduced into blastocysts and the modified blastocysts are then implanted in pseudo-pregnant female animals. Chimeras are selected from the offspring, for example by the observation of mosaic coat coloration resulting from differences in the strain used to prepare the ES cells and the strain used to prepare the blastocysts, and are bred to produce non-chimeric transgenic animals.

Other methods for the production of transgenic animals are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,407 to Wagner et al., and PCT Publication No. WO90/08832.

The practice of gene knockout in embryonic stem cells, and the generation of engineered animals from such cells, is discussed in numerous publications, including Thomas, et al., 1987; Robertson, 1987; Mansour, et al., 1988; Capecchi, 1989; Frohman and Martin, 1989; Hasty, et al., 1991; Jeannotte, et al., 1991; Mortensen, et al., 1992; Thomas, et al., 1992; and PCT Patent Publication No. WO 93/02188.

Among other applications, transgenic pigs prepared in accordance with the invention are useful as model systems for testing the xenotransplantation of their engineered cells, tissues, or organs and as sources of engineered cells, tissues, or organs for xenotransplantation. The lack of expression of porcine E-selectin on the endothelial cells of the transgenic pigs will provide enhanced protection from rejection following xenotransplantation of those cells, or of tissues and organs containing those cells, into recipient animals, e.g., humans. In addition to their use in producing tissues, and organs for transplantation, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention can also be used to directly engineer cultured porcine endothelial cells for subsequent use in transplantation.

The nucleic acid molecules of the invention can also be used to express porcine E.-selectin proteins for subsequent purification and use. Recombinant DNA methods for the production of recombinant proteins are well known in the art, as are methods for the purification of such proteins (see, for example, Ausubel, et al., 1992; Goeddel, 1990; Harris and Angal, 1989; and Deutscher, 1990). The production of soluble porcine E-selectin by such means is described below under the heading "Materials and Methods", and under the subheadings "generation of vectors directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin", "generation of stabily transfected cells secreting porcine E-selectin", and "purification and characterization of soluble porcine E-selectin protein", and is also described below in Example 6. Preferred uses of such proteins include the use of soluble porcine E-selectin as an inmunogen for the purpose of raising anti porcine E-selectin antibodies, or as an antigen for use in an immunoassay as described below under the heading "Materials and Methods", and under the subheading "ELISA screen for anti-porcine E-selectin antibodies".

The present invention provides recombinant expression vectors which include synthetic or cDNA-derived DNA fragments encoding porcine E-selectin. The nucleotide sequence coding for porcine E-selectin can be inserted into an appropriate expression vector, i.e., a vector that contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted protein-coding sequence. The necessary transcriptional and translational signals can also be supplied by the native gene and/or its flanking regions. A variety of host vector systems may be utilized to express the protein-coding sequence. These include, but are not limited to, mammalian cell systems infected with virus (e.g., vaccinia virus, adenovirus, retroviruses, etc.); mammalian cell systems transfected with plasmids; insect cell systems infected with virus (e.g., baculovirus); microorganisms such as yeast containing yeast expression vectors, or bacteria transformed with bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA (see, for example, Goeddel, 1990).

Useful expression vectors for bacterial use can comprise a selectable marker and bacterial origin of replication derived from commercially available plasmids comprising genetic elements of the well-known cloning vector pBR322 (American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, United States of America; ATCC Accession No. 37017). These pBR322 "backbone sections," or functionally equivalent sequences, are combined with an appropriate promoter and the structural gene to be expressed. Promoters commonly used in recombinant microbial expression vectors include, but are not limited to, the lactose promoter system (Chang, et al., 1978), the tryptophan (trp) promoter (Goeddel, et al., 1980) and the tac promoter, or a fusion between the tac and trp promoters referred to as the trc promoter (Maniatis, 1982). Preferred bacterial expression vectors include, but are not limited to, vector pSE420 (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.). This vector harbors the trc promoter, the lacO operon, an anti-terminator sequence, the g10 ribosome binding sequence, a translation terminator sequence, the lacIq repressor, the ColEl origin of replication, and the ampicillin resistance gene.

Recombinant porcine E-selectin may also be expressed in fungal hosts, preferably yeast of the Saccharomyces genus such as S. cerevisiae. Fungi of other genera such as Aspergillus, Pichia or Kluyveromyces may also be employed. Fungal vectors will generally contain an origin of replication from the 2 Am yeast plasmid or another autonomously replicating sequence (ARS), a promoter, DNA encoding porcine E-selectin, sequences directing polyadenylation and transcription termination, and a selectable marker gene. Preferably, fungal vectors will include an origin of replication and selectable markers permitting transformation of both E. coli and fungi.

Suitable promoter systems in fungi include the promoters for metallothionein, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, or other glycolytic enzymes such as enolase, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucokinase, the glucose-repressible alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (ADH2), the constitutive promoter from the alcohol dehydrogenase gene, ADH1, and others. See, for example, Schena, et al. 1991. Secretion signals, such as those directing the secretion of yeast α-factor or yeast invertase, can be incorporated into the fungal vector to promote secretion of a soluble porcine E-selectin into the fungal growth medium. See Moir, et al., 1991.

Preferred fungal expression vectors can be assembled using DNA sequences from pBR322 for selection and replication in bacteria, and fungal DNA sequences, including the ADH1 promoter and the alcohol dehydrogenase ADH1 termination sequence, as found in vector pAAH5 (Ammerer, 1983). The ADH1 promoter is effective in yeast in that ADH1 mRNA is estimated to be 1-2% of total poly(A) RNA.

Various mammalian or insect cell culture systems can be employed to express recombinant porcine E-selectin. Suitable baculovirus systems for production of heterologous proteins in insect cells are reviewed by Luckow, et al., 1988. Examples of suitable mammalian host cell lines include the COS cell of monkey kidney origin, mouse L cells, murine C127 mammary epithelial cells, mouse Balb/3T3 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), human 293 EBNA and HeLa cells, myeloma, and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Mammalian expression vectors may comprise non-transcribed elements such as origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer linked to the porcine E-selectin gene to be expressed, and other 5' or 3' flanking sequences such as ribosome binding sites, a polyadenylation sequence, splice donor and acceptor sites, and transcriptional termination sequences.

The transcriptional and translational control sequences in mammalian expression vector systems to be used in transforming vertebrate cells may be provided by viral sources. For example, commonly used promoters and enhancers are derived from Polyoma virus, Adenovirus, Simian Virus 40 (SV40), and human cytomegalovirus, including the cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene 1 promoter and enhancer (CMV).

Particularly preferred eukaryotic vectors for the expression of porcine E-selectin are pAPEX-1 and pAPEX-3, as described below under the heading "Materials and Methods," and under the subheadings "assays for binding of human neutrophils and HL-60 cells to porcine E-selectin transfected COS cells," and "generation of vectors directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin". A particularly preferred host cell for the expression of inserts in the pAPEX-3 vector is the human 293 EBNA cell line (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.).

Another preferred eukaryotic vector for the expression of porcine E-selectin is pcDNAI/Amp (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, California). The pcDNAI/Amp expression vector contains the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene I promoter and enhancer elements, the Simian Virus 40 (SV40) consensus intron donor and acceptor splice sequences, and the SV40 consensus polyadenylation signal. This vector also contains an SV40 origin of replication that allows for episomal amplification in cells (e.g., COS cells, MOP8 cells, etc.) transformed with SV40 large T antigen, and an ampicillin resistance gene for propagation and selection in bacterial hosts.

Purified porcine E-selectin is prepared by culturing suitable host/vector systems to express the recombinant translation products of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, which are then purified from the culture media or cell extracts of the host system, e.g., the bacteria, insect cells, fungal, or mammalian cells. Fermentation of fungi or mammalian cells that express soluble porcine E-selectin protein containing a histidine tag sequence (comprising a string of at least 5 histidine residues in a row) as a secreted product greatly simplifies purification. Such a histidine tag sequence enables binding under specific conditions to metals such as nickel, and thereby to nickel columns for purification. Specific examples of the generation of a porcine E-selectin protein containing such a histidine tag sequence and its purification is set forth below under the heading "Materials and Methods", and under the subheadings "generation of vectors directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin", and "purification and characterization of soluble porcine E-selectin protein".

In general terms, the purification of recombinant porcine E-selectin is performed using a suitable set of concentration, fractionation, and chromatography steps well known in the art (see, for example, Deutscher, 1990; and Harris and Angal, 1989). For recombinant porcine E-selectins requiring correct disulfide bond formation for full biological activity, denaturation of the purified protein followed by chemical-mediated refolding under reducing conditions can be done to promote proper disulfide interactions.

Porcine E-selectin proteins purified from bodily fluids of transgenic animals engineered to produce the porcine E-selectins of the invention are also within the scope of the invention, as are porcine E-selectins that are produced in part or entirely by chemical synthesis.

Porcine E-selectins synthesized in recombinant culture and subsequently purified may be characterized by the presence of contaminating components. These components may include proteins or other molecules in amounts and of a character which depend on the production and purification processes. These components will ordinarily be of viral, prokaryotic, eukaryotic, or synthetic origin, and preferably are present in innocuous contaminant quantities, on the order of less than about 1% by weight. Recombinant cell culture, however, enables the production of porcine E-selectins relatively free of other proteins that may normally be associated with the protein as it is found in nature.

As discussed above, certain aspects of the present invention relates to the use of anti porcine E-selectin antibodies or soluble E-selectin protein (collectively referred to hereinafter as "therapeutic E-selectin agents") in treating patients suffering from xenotransplant rejection. The therapeutic E-selectin agents are used in an amount effective to achieve blood concentrations equivalent to in vitro concentrations that substantially reduce (e.g., reduce by at least about 50%) the binding of human test cells expressing the human E-selectin binding ligand, such as PBLs, neutrophils, and HL-60 cells, to cells expressing porcine E-selectin, such as TNFα treated porcine endothelial cells. Reduction of the binding of human test cells to cells expressing porcine E-selectin can be measured by methods well known in the art such as, for example, by the assay described below under the heading "assays for neutrophil/HL-60 binding to PAEC".

To achieve the desired reductions in binding, the therapeutic E-selectin agents can be administered in a variety of unit dosage forms. The dose will vary according to the particular agent. For example, different antibodies may have different masses and/or affinities, and thus require different dosage levels. Antibodies prepared as Fab' or F(ab')₂ fragments will also require differing dosages than the equivalent intact immunoglobulins, as they are of considerably smaller mass than intact immunoglobulins, and thus require lower dosages to reach the same molar levels in the patient's blood.

The dose will also vary depending on the manner of administration, the particular symptoms of the patient being treated, the overall health, condition, size, and age of the patient, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. Dosage levels of the therapeutic E-selectin agents for human subjects are generally between about 1 mg per kg and about 100 mg per kg per patient per treatment, and preferably between about 5 mg per kg and about 50 mg per kg per patient per treatment. In terms of plasma concentrations, the therapeutic E-selectin agent concentrations are preferably in the range from about 25 μg/ml to about 500 μg/ml.

Subject to the judgement of the physician, a typical therapeutic treatment includes a series of doses, which will usually be administered concurrently with the monitoring of clinical endpoints such as xenotransplant biopsies, or measures of organ function, such as, for example, for xenotransplanted kidneys, BUN levels, proteinuria levels, etc., with the dosage levels adjusted as needed to achieve the desired clinical outcome.

The therapeutic E-selectin agents of the present invention can be used in therapeutic compositions to treat episodes of xenograft rejection. Such treatment will result in the reduction of the severity of the rejection episode. For such application, purified therapeutic E-selectin agents can be administered to a patient, e.g., a human, in a variety of ways. Thus, therapeutic E-selectin agents can be given by bolus injection, continuous infusion, sustained release from implants, or other suitable techniques.

Formulations suitable for injection are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 17th ed. (1985). Such formulations must be sterile and non-pyrogenic, and generally will include purified therapeutic E-selectin agents in conjunction with a pharmaceutically effective carrier, such as saline, buffered (e.g., phosphate buffered) saline, Hank's solution, Ringer's solution, dextrose/saline, glucose solutions, and the like. The formulations may contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required, such as, tonicity adjusting agents, wetting agents, bactericidal agents, preservatives, stabilizers, and the like.

In one preferred embodiment, the therapeutic E-selectin agent is formulated as a lyophilizate using appropriate excipient solutions (e.g., sucrose, albumin) as diluents. The amount and frequency of administration will depend, of course, on such factors as the nature and severity of the rejection episode being treated, the desired response, the condition of the patient, and so forth.

The formulations of the invention can be distributed as articles of manufacture comprising packaging material and the therapeutic E-selectin agents. The packaging material will include a label which indicates that the formulation is for use in the treatment of porcine xenotransplant rejection.

Hybridomas producing the monoclonal antibodies of the invention, i.e., monoclonal antibodies reactive with porcine E-selectin, but not with human E-selectin, can be obtained using purified porcine E-selectin as an immunogen followed by screening. Such screening is carried out to identify hybridomas producing antibodies with the desired properties, and can be carried out using appropriate immunoassays. Examples of appropriate immunoassays are the ELISA described below under the heading "Materials and Methods", and under the subheading "ELISA screen for anti-porcine E-selectin antibodies". This ELISA can be used to identify hybridomas producing antibodies that bind to porcine E-selectin. A simple modification of this ELISA (consisting of substituting soluble human E-selectin for soluble porcine E-selectin) can be used to identify those of the hybridomas producing antibodies that bind to porcine E-selectin in which the antibodies do not bind to human E-selectin.

General methods for the immunization of animals (in this case with porcine E-selectin), isolation of antibody producing cells, fusion of such cells with immortal cells (e.g., myeloma cells) to generate hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies, screening of hybridoma supernatants for reactivity and/or lack of reactivity of secreted monoclonal antibodies with particular antigens (in this case reactivity with porcine E-selectin but not with human E-selectin), the preparation of quantities of such antibodies in hybridoma supernatants or ascites fluids, and for the purification and storage of such monoclonal antibodies, can be found in numerous publications. These include: Coligan, et al., eds. Current Protocols In Immunology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1992; Harlow and Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1988; Liddell and Cryer, A Practical Guide To Monoclonal Antibodies. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, West Sussex, England, 1991; Montz, et al., 1990; Wurzner, et al., 1991; and Mollnes, et al., 1988.

The present invention also includes porcine E-selectins and anti porcine E-selectin antibodies with or without associated native patterns of glycosylation. For example, expressing proteins recombinantly in bacteria such as E. coli provides non-glycosylated molecules, while expressing porcine E-selectins or anti porcine E-selectin antibodies in mammalian cells can provide glycosylated molecules.

As used herein, the term "antibodies" refers to immunoglobulins produced in vivo, as well as those produced in vitro by a hybridoma, and antigen binding fragments (e.g., Fab' preparations) of such immunoglobulins, as well as to recombinantly expressed antigen binding proteins, including immunoglobulins, chimeric immunoglobulins, "humanized" immunoglobulins, antigen binding fragments of such immunoglobulins, single chain antibodies, and other recombinant proteins containing antigen binding domains derived from immunoglobulins. Publications describing methods for the preparation of such antibodies, in addition to those listed immediately above, include: Reichmann, et al., 1988; Winter and Milstein, 1991; Clackson, et al., 1991; Morrison, 1992; Haber, 1992; and Rodrigues, et al., 1993.

Diagnostic use of the anti porcine E-selectin antibodies of the invention can be carried out by assaying the patient's blood for levels of porcine E-selectin. Assays for porcine E-selectin levels may be by RIA, ELISA, or other suitable immunoassay using the anti porcine E-selectin antibodies of the invention. General methods for performing such assays are set forth in Coligan, et al., 1992. Blood porcine E-selectin levels must be monitored at regular intervals, e.g., daily or weekly, and changes in such levels recorded. Any distinct increase in porcine E-selectin levels in the patient's blood is an indication that the porcine endothelium is being activated, and may indicate the onset of a rejection episode.

An alternative test for rejection, (or a test providing confirmation of the occurrence of rejection as indicated by measurement of soluble E-selectin levels) may be obtained by monitoring porcine organ function or by biopsy and histopathological examination of the porcine organ. Such examination will be carried out in order to detect the typical manifestations of transplant rejection, e.g., cellular infiltrates, inflammation, and necrosis. In accordance with the invention, the histopathological examination of xenotransplanted organ biopsy tissues will also include the use of the antibodies of the invention to detect the levels of expression of porcine E-selectin on the surfaces of the cells of the biopsied tissues of the xenotransplanted organ. High levels of such expression (compared to levels on non-transplanted control tissue samples) are indicative of xenotransplant rejection.

Although specific embodiments of the invention are described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the invention's spirit and scope.

For example, the nucleotide sequences of the porcine E-selectin-encoding nucleic acid molecules of the invention may be modified by creating nucleic acid mutations which do not significantly change the encoded amino acid sequences. Such mutations include third nucleotide changes in degenerate codons (and other "silent" mutations that do not change the encoded amino acid sequence).

Other such mutations within the scope of the invention and considered as equivalents of the specific embodiments set forth herein include those which result in a highly conservative amino acid substitution for an encoded amino acid while leaving the leucocyte binding characteristics of the porcine E-selectin molecule essentially unchanged. Such silent or highly conservative mutations are included within the scope of the invention.

Also included are:

1) Nucleotide and amino acid sequences comprising changes that are found as naturally occurring allelic variants of the porcine E-selectin gene;

2) Sequences which have been truncated so as to only encode the mature porcine E-selectin polypeptide, i.e., a porcine E-selectin polypeptide without the amino terminal leader sequence that directs the protein to its typical transmembrane orientation in the cell, indicated by negative amino acid numbers in SEQ ID NO:9;

3) Sequences in which the E.-selectin amino terminal leader sequence has been altered, e.g., substituted with a different leader;

4) Sequences in which a peptide "tag" sequence has been inserted or added on to enable the ready identification and/or purification of recombinant proteins. Such tags include the FLAG epitope (which enables specific binding to anti-FLAG antibodies) and a histidine tag sequence, as described above;

5) Sequences that have been altered to produce a soluble porcine E-selectin protein by, for example, truncation near amino acid number 405 of SEQ ID NO:9 as described below under the heading "Materials and Methods" and the sub-heading "generation of vectors directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin." Such soluble selectin proteins and sequence alterations have also been described for the human E-selectin molecule. The generation of recombinant soluble human E-selectin molecules is disclosed in Lobb, et al., 1991, and PCT patent publication No. WO 93/07268.

Without intending to limit it in any manner, the present invention will be more fully described by the following examples. Materials and methods used in various of the examples are as follows.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials: A monoclonal antibody to human LFA-1 (clone 25.3) was obtained from AMAC Inc., Westbrook Me. Human TNFα and IL-1 were obtained from Collaborative Biomedical Products, Bedford Mass. Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DMEM) and RPMI-1640 medium were purchased from JRH Biosciences, Lenexa Kans. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) was purchased from Harlan, Indianapolis Ind. Sterile Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were purchased from Bio Whittaker, Walkersville Md. Calcein AM was obtained from Molecular Probes, Eugene Oreg. Neuraminidase was purchased from Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis Ind. All other reagents were of analytical grade or better and purchased from Sigma Chemical Co., Saint Louis Mo., unless otherwise specified.

Cell culture: Porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) were obtained at passage 1 (Cell Systems, Kirkland Wash.) and maintained in DMEM containing 10% FBS, penicillin 100 U/ml, and streptomycin 100 μg/ml (pen/strep, JRH Biosciences, Lenexa Kans.), hereinafter referred to as D10 medium. PAEC were at passage 2-4 in all assays. For cell binding assays, PAEC were removed from culture flasks with trypsin EDTA and replated onto 96 well culture dishes at a density of 1×10⁴ cells/well. The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, Md. and maintained in D10.

Assays for Neutrophil / HL-60 binding to PAEC: Confluent monolayers of PAEC in 96 well plates were incubated (4 hr, 37° C.) in 200 μl/well DMEM alone, DMEM containing 25 ng/ml human TNFα, or DMEM containing 10 ng/ml human IL-1. During this incubation, human neutrophils were isolated from 60 ml of human blood obtained from a healthy donor using the manufacturer's protocol (Polymorphoprep, Oslo, Norway), or HL-60 cells were spun down from culture medium.

The isolated neutrophils or HL-60 cells were washed 2x with HBSS, resuspended in HBSS containing 1% BSA (HBSS/BSA) at a final concentration of 3×10⁶ cells/ml, incubated (30 min, 37° C.) in the cytoplasmic indicator dye calcein AM (10 μM), washed 2x with HBSS and resuspended to 3×10⁶ cells/ml in HBSS/BSA. Prior to addition to PAEC monolayers, the purified human neutrophils or HL-60 cells were incubated (30 min, 37° C.) in either, HBSS/BSA, HBSS/BSA containing 0.25 U/ml neuraminidase, or HBSS/BSA containing 10 μg/ml anti-LFA-1 mAb.

Following this incubation, the neutrophils or HL-60 cells were washed 2x with HBSS/BSA and resuspended to 3×10⁶ cells/ml. PAEC monolayers were then washed 3x with HBSS/BSA and calcein-loaded human neutrophils or HL-60 cells were added at 3×10⁵ cells/well. The plates were centrifuged briefly (250 x g, 1 minute), incubated in the dark for 5 min at 37° C. and then centrifuged upside down at 250 x g for 3 minutes. The media and unbound neutrophils or HL-60 cells were removed from the plate and the bound cells were lysed by the addition of 1% SDS (100 μl/well) in HBSS. Neutrophil or HL-60 cell binding was determined by measuring the release of calcein from bound neutrophils or HL-60 cells into the lysis buffer using a Cytofluor 2350 (Millipore, Bedford Mass.--excitation wavelength=485 nm, emission wavelength=530 nm). Background fluorescence was determined from wells containing PAEC that did not receive labeled neutrophils or HL-60 cells. Cloning and Sequencing: PAEC were grown to near confluence and stimulated with human TNFα (20 ng/ml) in D10 for 4 hours at 37° C. Total RNA was isolated from these cells using the acid/guanidinium thiocyanate technique (Chomczynski and Sacchi, 1987). Ten micrograms of total RNA was heated at 65° C. for 3 min and quenched on ice before first strand cDNA synthesis was carried out for 1 hr at 37° C. in the following reaction mixture: 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3), 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM dithiothreotol, 0.25 mM of each dNTP, 0.5 μg oligo dT₁₆, and 20 U of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase (Seikagaku Inc, Rockville Md.).

The cDNA pool (5 μl of first strand cDNA reaction mixture) was used as a template in a 100 μl PCR reaction under the following reaction conditions: 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCL (pH 9.0), 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 01% (w/v) gelatin, 1% Triton X-100, 200 μM each dNTP, 2.5 U Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer Cetus, Norwalk Conn.) using 25 pmol of each primer--oligo 138 (SEQ ID NO:2) and oligo 139 (SEQ ID NO:3). PCR amplification was performed for 40 cycles (95° C. for 1 min, 42° C. for 2 min, 72° C. for 2 min) followed by 1 cycle at 72° C. for 10 min.

The resulting approximately 150 base pair PCR fragment (referred to hereinafter as the "150 bp fragment") was cloned into the pCRII vector using the T/A cloning system (which includes the PCRII vector) as described by the manufacturer (Invitrogen, San Diego Calif.). The 150 bp fragment in pCRII was subjected to sequence analysis (Sanger, et al., 1977) Comparison of the non-oligonuclotide derived sequence of this PCR fragment (nucleotide 357 through nucleotide 454 of SEQ ID NO:1) with those of human and mouse E-selectin confirmed that the fragment encoded an amino acid sequence that was homologous to the lectin binding domains of the human and mouse proteins.

The 150 base pair fragment was subsequently used to screen a UNI-ZAP XR cDNA library (Stratagene, La Jolla Calif.) constructed from PAEC RNA prepared following stimulation of PAEC with human TNFα as described above. The library was plated and screened as recommended by the supplier's protocol with only minor modifications.

Briefly, 1×10⁶ phage were isolated on nitrocellulose lifts which were subsequently denatured, neutralized, and air dried. Denatured filters were prehybridized in BSA/SDS buffer (Church and Gilbert, 1984) for 2 hr at 60° C. before addition of the 150 base pair fragment which had been 32p labeled with the PRIME IT random primer kit (Stratagene, La Jolla Calif.) to a specific activity of 1×10⁹ CPM/μg of DNA. Membranes were hybridized at 60° C. overnight and subsequently washed using the following conditions: two--30 min washes with 2x SSC/0.1% SDS at room temperature followed by two-30 min washes with 0.5x SSC/0.1% SDS at 60° C.

Positive plaques present on duplicate lifts were purified and plasmid (BLUESCRIPT SK⁻ phagemid) DNA rescued in accordance with the instructions of the UNI-ZAP XR vector manufacturer (Stratagene,, La Jolla Calif.). Both strands of a putative full-length clone of approximately 3.4 kb (designated "porcine E-selectin/pBLUESCRIPT SK⁻ ") were sequenced through the coding region using the chain termination method (Sanger, et al., 1977). The DNA template was primed with vector primers flanking the multiple cloning site of the BLUESCRIPT SK⁻ vector or primers constructed subsequent to the initial sequencing runs from the internal cDNA sequence. The sequence obtained is set forth as SEQ ID NO:1.

Assays for binding of human neutrophils and HL-60 cells to porcine E-selectin transfected COS cells: COS-7 cells (Designation CRL 1651, ATCC, Rockville, Md.) were transiently transfected with either the eukaryotic expression vector pAPEX-1 alone or pAPEX-1 containing the full-length porcine E-selectin cDNA (PAPEX-1/pE-selectin). Briefly, a 3.5 kb NotI-XhoI fragment (from plasmid vector porcine E-selectin/pBLUESCRIPT SK⁻) containing the porcine E-selectin cDNA was cloned into the NotI/XhoI sites of the polylinker in the expression vector pAPEX-1.

pAPEX-1 (SEQ ID NO:4) is a derivative of the vector pcDNAI/Amp (Invitrogen, San Diego Calif.) which was modified as follows to increase protein expression in mammalian cells. First, since the intron derived from the gene encoding the SV40 small-t antigen has been shown to decrease expression of upstream coding regions (Evans and Scarpulla, 1989), this intron was removed from pcDNAI/Amp by digestion with XbaI plus HpaI, followed by treatment with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and all four dNTPs. The resulting blunt ended 4.2 kb fragment was gel purified and self ligated to yield a closed circular plasmid.

A 5'-untranslated region adenovirus/immunoglobulin hybrid intron was introduced into the plasmid by replacing a 0.5 kb NdeI-NotI fragment with the corresponding 0.7 kb NdeI-NotI fragment from the vector pRc/CMV7SB (obtained from Dr. Joseph Goldstein, University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, Dallas, Tex.). Finally, the resulting CMV promoter expression cassette was shuttled in an NdeI--SfiI fragment into the vector pGEM-4Z (Promega, Madison Wis.) by ligation to an NdeI--SfiI fragment (containing pGEM-4Z) obtained from a pGEM based expression vector containing a CMV-promoter and an SV40 origin of replication (Davis, et al., 1991).

COS-7 cells were transfected using the DEAE-dextran method. Briefly, COS-7 cells were plated at a density of 2.5×10⁶ cells per 100 mm tissue culture dish. The cells were transfected 24 hr later using 5 ml serum-free RPMI 1640 medium containing 0.4 mg/ml DEAE-dextran, 100 μM chloroquine, 2 mM glutamine, 25 μg/ml bovine insulin, 25 μg/ml human transferrin, 25 ng/ml sodium selenite, and 1 μg/ml DNA. After incubation at 37° C. for 3.5 hr, the transfection medium was aspirated and replaced with 10% DMSO in PBS for 2 min. The cells were rinsed once with serum-free DMEM and then cultured for 24 hr in D10. On day 2, the cells were harvested using trypsin and plated in a 96 well plate at 1×10⁴ cells/well. The cells were assayed for the ability to bind human neutrophils and HL-60 cells on day 4 as described above.

Generation of vectors directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin: PCR was performed using the plasmid pAPEX-1/pEselectin (described above) as template and oligo 446 (SEQ ID NO:5) and oligo 483 (SEQ ID NO:6) as primers. The approximately 520 bp PCR product was purified using GENE CLEAN and digested with SphI plus EcoRI. The resulting approximately 275 bp band was gel purified and ligated into the vector pGEM-7Zf (+) (Promega, Madison Wis.) to yield the plasmid pGEM-7Zf(+)446/483. The sequence of the cloned fragment of the PCR product was verified by the Sanger dideoxy chain termination method to contain the sequence set forth below as SEQ ID NO:7.

The vector pAPEX-3/spE-selectin+His (directing the expression of soluble porcine E-selectin containing a carboxyl terminal tag of six histidine residues to facilitate purification by nickel affinity chromatography) was constructed by ligating together: a 8973 bp NotI/Sse8337I fragment obtained from pAPEX-3/pE-selectin, a 1551 bp NotI/SphI fragment from pAPEX-3/pE-selectin, and a 264 bp SphI/Sse8337I fragment from pGEM7Zf(+)446/483.

Vector pAPEX-3/pE-selectin was constructed by a three-way ligation of a 4851 bp MluI/XhoI fragment from the vector pAPEX-1/pE-selectin (described above) with a 1144 bp MluI/SpeI fragment from pDR2b and a 6735 bp SpeI/SalI fragment from APEX-3.

Vector pAPEX-3 (SEQ ID NO:8) was constructed by a three-way ligation of a 1041 bp MluI/BamHI fragment of vector pRc/CMV7SC (obtained from Dr. Joseph Goldstein, University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, Dallas, Tex.; an identical fragment, corresponding to nucleotides 1 to 1041 of SEQ ID NO:4, may be obtained from vector pRc/CMV7SB, referred to above) ligated with a 6747 BamHI/SpeI fragment and a 1144 bp MluI/SpeI fragment, each obtained from vector pDR2b.

Vector pDR2b was constructed by self-ligation of an 8343 bp DNA fragment which was purified by gel electrophoresis after ClaI/AccI digestion of vector pDR2 (Promega Corporation, Madison, Wis.) and treatment of the digestion products with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and all four dNTPs to produce blunt ends.

Vector pAPEX-3 (SEQ ID NO:8, discussed above) contains a CMV promoter followed by a hybrid adenovirus/immunoglobulin intron followed by a polylinker cloning site followed by an SV40 virus polyadenylation sequence. Additionally, APEX-3 contains a gene cassette conferring hygromycin B resistance to mammalian cells, and the Epstein Barr virus origin of replication (orip) to allow replication and maintenance as a stable episome in cells expressing Epstein Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA).

Generation of stabily transfected cells secreting porcine E-selectin. 293-EBNA cells, (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) were maintained in medium A (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U/mL penicillin, and 100 ug/ml streptomycin) containing 250 μg/mL G-418. On day 0, cells were plated at 1.0×10⁶ cells per 60 mm dish. On day 1, the cells were washed twice with DMEM, and refed 0.5 ml DMEM.

TRANSFECTAM reagent (15 μL, Promega Corporation, Madison, Wis.) was added to 0.5 mL DMEM and mixed by pipetting. This TRANSFECTAM in DMEM mixture was next added to 5 ug DNA (pAPEX-3/spE-selectin+His) in 0.5 ml DMEM, mixed by pipetting, and the total 1 mL volume was added to a plate of cells. After incubation for 4 hours at 37° C., the dishes were washed twice with DMEM and refed medium A. On day 2, the cells were refed medium A supplemented with 250 μg/ml G-418 and 300 U/ml hygromycin B. After 7 days all surviving cells were pooled and maintained as cell line 50-A2.

Purification and characterization of soluble porcine E-selectin protein. 50-A2 cells from one confluent 175 cm² flask were seeded into ten 175 cm² flasks in 30 mL medium B (medium A containing 250 μg/ml G-418 plus 300 U/ml hygromycin B). The cells were grown to confluence over 7 days with one refeeding. The conditioned medium B was stored at 4° C. until purification. When cells reached confluence, they were refed 30 mL EX-CELL 300 medium (JRH Biosciences, Lexena, Kans.) every 3 to 4 days for a total of 14 days.

Several purification runs were performed, each using 600 ml of conditioned medium B or conditioned EX-CELL 300 medium. The 600 mL of medium was concentrated using a stirred cell fitted with a YM10 membrane (Amicon, Inc., Beverly, Mass.) to a final volume of approximately 50 mL.

Nickel charged resin was prepared by washing iminodiacetic acid/sepharose 6B fast flow resin (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo.) with 7 volumes each of: 1) water; 2) 50 mM NiSO₄ ; and 3) buffer B (20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, 5 mM imidazole, pH 8.0). Each wash was for 30 minutes with rocking to maintain the resin in suspension, followed by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 5 minutes to pellet the resin.

For binding of the histidine tagged soluble porcine E-selectin, 25 mL concentrated medium was mixed with 3.5 ml 8x buffer B and approximately 1 ml packed volume of NiSO₄ charged resin. The medium was incubated for 90 minutes at room temperature with rocking. The resin was removed by centrifugation, and washed twice with 20 ml buffer B. The resin was next resuspended in 10 ml buffer B and poured into a column (BioRad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.). The column (2 mL settled resin volume) was washed with 35 column volumes buffer B followed by 20 column volumes buffer W (20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, 30 mM imidazole, pH 8.0). Finally, the bound protein was eluted with 4 column volumes of buffer E (20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, 1 M imidazole, pH 8.0).

The eluted material was dialyzed at 4° C. against Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) using MWCO=3500 dialysis tubing. Analysis of the eluted material was performed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from multiple batches and staining with Coomassie blue.

ELISA screen for anti-porcine E-selectin antibodies: To test antibodies for reactivity with porcine E-selectin, an ELISA was carried out using the following protocol:

A 50 μL aliquot of a solution of soluble porcine E-selectin in sodium carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.5, was incubated overnight at 4° C. in each test well of a 96 well plate (Nunc-Immuno F96 Polysorp, A/S Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) in order to bind the protein to the plastic plate. The wells were then subjected to a wash step. (Each wash step consisted of three washes with TBST.) Next, test wells were blocked with 200 μL of blocking solution, 1% BSA in TBS (BSA/TBS), for 1 hour at 37° C. (or, in some cases, 4° C. overnight). After an additional wash step, a 50 μL aliquot of test antibody solution (e.g., hybridoma supernatant) was incubated in each test well for 1 hour at 37° C. with a subsequent wash step.

As a secondary (detection) antibody, 50 μL of a 1:2000 dilution of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG in BSA/TBS was incubated in each test well for 1 hour at 37° C., followed by a wash step. Following the manufacturer's procedures, 10 mg of O-phenylenediamine (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo., Catalog No. P-8287) was dissolved in 25 mLs of phosphate-citrate buffer (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo., Catalog No. P-4922), and 50 μL of this substrate solution was added to each well to allow detection of peroxidase activity. Finally, to stop the peroxidase detection reaction, a 50 μL aliquot of 3N hydrochloric acid was added to each well. The presence of antibodies reactive with porcine E-selectin in the test antibody solutions was read out by a spectrophotometric OD determination at 490 nm.

The solution of soluble porcine E-selectin in sodium carbonate/bicarbonate buffer that served as a source of the protein bound to the plastic plate was used at 2-fold serial dilutions across the plate starting at 50 μg of porcine E-selectin per mL, i.e., at 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.5625, and 0.78125 μg/mL. These dilutions were used to determine the minimum amount of soluble porcine E-selectin that would give maximum sensitivity in this assay. This amount was determined to be the 1.5625 μg/mL dilution.

Northern blot analysis of E-selectin expression in porcine endothelial cells: PAEC were grown to confluence and incubated with D10 supplemented with human IL-1 (20 ng/ml) or TNFα (20 ng/ml) for 4 hr at 37° C. Total RNA was isolated from the cytokine induced and uninduced PAEC as described above. Twenty micrograms from each RNA source was denatured in glyoxal, loaded on a 2% agarose gel in 10 mM phosphate and electrophoresed for 5 hr at 75 volts. RNA was transferred to nitrocellulose (Schleicher and Schuell, Kenne N. H.) by capillary action in 20X SSC. The membrane was prehybridized in BSA/SDS buffer for 2 hr at 65° C. and subsequently hybridized overnight at 60° C. in the same buffer with a ³² P-labeled probe containing most of the porcine E-selectin coding region as a 1.6Kbp BamHI fragment of the pAPEX-1/pE-selectin plasmid referred to above (specific activity: 2×10³ CPM/μg of DNA).

The blot was washed as follows: two-15 min washes with 2x SSC/0.1% SDS at 23° C., two-15 min washes with 0.5X SSC/0.1% SDS at 60° C. and two-15 min washes with 0.2x SSC/0.1% SDS at 60° C. Finally, the blot was exposed to film with intensifying screens for 8 hr at -80° C. The membrane was subsequently stripped in 0.1x SSC at 65° C. for 1 hr before reprobing with a human α-tubulin probe (ATCC #3779S) following the procedures described above for probing with the porcine E-selectin coding region probe.

EXAMPLE 1 Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis Of Porcine E-Selectin

E-selectin homologues have been cloned and characterized from several species including human, mouse, rabbit, cow, and rat (Bevilacqua, et al., 1989; Weller, et al., 1992; Larigan, et al., 1992; and Fries, et al., 1993). Alignment of E-selectin amino acid sequences from several of these species reveals several regions of shared amino acid identity. Two degenerate oligonucleotides were designed based on sequence homology within the human and mouse E-selectin lectin-like domains. These oligonucleotides were used to PCR amplify the 150 bp fragment referred to above from PAEC cDNA. Analysis of this fragment revealed a unique sequence that was approximately 80% identical to the lectin domains of human and mouse E-selectins.

This 150 bp fragment was used to probe a human cytokine-stimulated PAEC cDNA library and multiple hybridizing clones were obtained. Sequence analysis of a 3.4 kb putative full-length clone revealed 1.9 kb of 3' untranslated DNA and an open reading frame of 1452 nucleotides encoding 484 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:1). Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of the porcine molecule with human E-selectin revealed an overall amino acid identity of 75%, while comparison to human P selectin revealed an identity of 44%.

Based on this information, this clone was designated as porcine E-selectin. Analysis of the porcine E-selectin structural domains also revealed homology to human E-selectin including a short signal peptide followed by lectin-like and EGF domains, complement repeats, a short hydrophobic transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail (FIG. 1). The structure of porcine E-selectin differed from that of human E-selectin in that the porcine protein contained only four complement repeats whereas the human protein contained six such repeats. Based on sequence comparison, this divergence appears to have resulted from a deletion of complement repeats 1 and 4.

EXAMPLE 2 E-Selectin Mediated Binding of Human Cells to PAEC

Binding assays were performed between PAEC and human neutrophils or HL-60 cells (FIG. 2). Human neutrophils bound weakly to untreated porcine endothelial cells. However, treatment of PAEC with human TNFα resulted in a marked increase in human neutrophil and HL-60 adhesion (15-20 fold) while induction of PAEC with human IL-1 resulted in only a slight increase in the binding (2 fold) of these cells.

Pre-treatment of human neutrophils and HL-60 cells with neuraminidase completely blocked their adhesion to PAEC, suggesting that sialic acid residues were required for these interactions. Binding assays performed in the presence of a blocking antibody against human LFA-1 failed to inhibit cell adhesion, suggesting that this molecule does not play a significant role in the interactions between PAEC and human neutrophils or HL-60 cells under these assay conditions. Taken together, these data indicate that PAEC express a cytokine inducible cell surface receptor that mediates binding to human neutrophils and HL-60 cells. Further, the requirement for sialic acid, together with the sequence comparisons set forth above in Example 1 and in FIG. 1, indicates that this receptor is functionally and structurally similar to human E-selectin.

EXAMPLE 3 Human Neutrophils and HL-60 Cells Bind to Recombinant E-Selectin Expressed in COS Cells

The binding of purified human neutrophils to control transfected, and porcine E-selectin transfected COS cells was analyzed. These experiments were undertaken in order to determine whether porcine E-selectin directly mediates the increased human neutrophil and HL-60 binding to PAEC seen upon stimulation of PAEC with human TNFα and to test whether sialic acid residues on these cells play a critical role in this increased binding.

The results of these studies are presented in FIG. 3. Increased binding (4-5 fold) was observed between human neutrophils or HL-60 cells and COS cells transfected with porcine E-selectin (i.e., pAPEX-1/pE-selectin) as compared to COS cells transfected with vector alone (i.e. the APEX-1 expression vector without the porcine E-selectin encoding insert). As was demonstrated for the binding of human neutrophils and HL-60 to cytokine-induced PAEC, the binding to porcine E-selectin transfected COS cells was completely blocked by prior incubation of human neutrophils with neuraminidase, thereby confirming that sialic acid residues expressed on human leukocytes are required for binding to porcine E-selectin.

Additional binding studies were carried out in the presence of the divalent ion chelating agent EDTA or the relatively calcium ion specific chelating agent EGTA. Since sialic acid mediated binding requires the presence of free calcium ions, inhibition of binding by these chelating agents provides additional evidence for the involvement of sialic acid in these binding interactions.

EXAMPLE 4 Human TNFα Induces Porcine E-Selectin Gene Transcription

Previous studies have shown that human E-selectin gene transcription is induced by the human cytokines TNFα and IL-1, as well as by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Bevilacqua, et al., 1989; and Montgomery, et al., 1991). Induction of E-selectin expression on human endothelial cells occurs within 3-4 hours after cytokine stimulation and returns to background levels after 16-24 hours (Bevilacqua, et al., 1989). As described above, there was a dramatic (15-20 fold) increase in neutrophil binding after stimulation of PAEC with human TNFα but only a minimal increase after stimulation with human IL-1 (FIG. 2). Studies were undertaken to determine if this differential inducibility of PAEC binding correlates with levels of PAEC porcine E-selectin gene transcription.

Northern blots were performed on RNA derived from uninduced PAEC and PAEC induced with either human TNFα or human IL-1 using the full-length porcine E-selectin cDNA as a probe. Hybridization of the porcine E-selectin probe to RNA derived from either unstimulated or human IL-1 stimulated PAEC was not observed. By contrast, the porcine E-selectin probe strongly hybridized to a single RNA species of approximately 3.4 kb derived from human TNFα stimulated PAEC. This band corresponded to the size of the full-length porcine E-selectin cDNA clone isolated from the PAEC library. When probed with the control α-tubulin probe, the same blot showed equivalent levels of hybridization to RNA derived from unstimulated PAEC, human IL-1 stimulated PAEC, or human TNFα stimulated PAEC.

These data parallel the differential effect of human TNFα and IL-1 on human neutrophil/PAEC binding and suggest that porcine E-selectin plays a critical role in the binding of neutrophils to xenograft vascular endothelium in vivo.

EXAMPLE 5 Characterization of Anti-E-Selectin Antibodies

Anti-human-E-selectin monoclonal antibodies were obtained as follows: A commercial anti-human-E-selectin monoclonal antibody ("anti-Elam-1" clone H18/7) was obtained from Collaborative Biomedical Products, Becton Dickenson Labware (Bedford, Mass., Catalog #550023). Anti-human-E-selectin monoclonal antibodies from clones CL-2, CL-3, and CL-37, were obtained from Dr. C. Wayne Smith, Baylor Clinical Care Center, Houston, Tex. (see Mulligan et al. 1991). These antibodies were tested by FACS against PAEC treated with 25ng/ml TNFα, PAEC treated with long/ml IL-1, or untreated PAEC. Only CL-37 bound to the TNFα treated PAEC, and none of the antibodies bound to IL-1 treated or untreated PAEC. CL-37 was also tested and found by FACS analysis to bind to porcine E-selectin expressing COS cells, but not to untransfected COS cells. CL-37 was also shown to bind to soluble porcine E-selectin using the ELISA described above.

EXAMPLE 6 Soluble Porcine E-Selectin

Soluble recombinant porcine E-selectin, prepared as described above, migrated by PAGE as a single Coomassie stained band with an apparent molecular weight of 66 kDa. Since the apparent molecular weight of the soluble porcine E-selectin molecule is higher than would be predicted from its amino acid sequence, it is evident that the molecule is glycosylated.

As discussed in the preceding example, the soluble porcine E-selectin molecule reacted specifically with the anti-human-E-selectin antibody CL-37.

Deposits

Plasmid porcine E-selectin/pBLUESCRIPT SK- was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., 20852, United States of America, in E. coli strain SOLR on May 6, 1994, and has been assigned the designation number ATCC 69616. This deposit was made under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure (1977).

Although preferred and other embodiments of the invention have been described herein, a variety of modifications which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure. The following claims are intended to cover the specific embodiments set forth herein as well as such modifications, variations, and equivalents.

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                  TABLE 1     ______________________________________     BLOOD LEVELS OF CIRCULATING SOLUBLE E-SELECTIN     ______________________________________     LEVEL IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS     22 ± 12 ng/ml  (n = 62)     0.9 ± 0.7 ng/ml                       (n = 71)     48 ± 19 ng/ml  (n = 64)     16 (range 9-42) ng/ml                       (n = 89)     22-75 ng/ml       (n = 15)     FOLD ELEVATION IN DISEASE     × 2      Diabetes     × 2      Breast/gastro-intestinal cancer     × 3-× 9                    Septic shock     × 23     Septic shock     × 4      Systemic lupus erythematosus     × 2      Scleroderma     × 2      Giant cell arteritis     × 2      Polyarteritis nodosa     × 2      Malaria     ______________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING     (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 9     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 1592 base pairs     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA     (A) DESCRIPTION: Porcine E- selectin     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: No     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     GAATTCGGCACGAGGCAAGAGGCACGAAGCAAGCCAGAGCAACACAGGAN50     GAATTTGACACCAAGATAAACACTTCACAAAACCAAAAGCATTTCAAGTC100     TCATCTTAGGATCAAAAGAACTCTTGAAGTCATGATTGCTTCACAG146     MetIleAlaSerGln     20     TTTCTCTCTGCTCTCCCTTTGGTGCTTCTCCTGCTTAGAGAA188     PheLeuSerAlaLeuProLeuValLeuLeuLeuLeuArgGlu     15-10-5     AGTGGAGCCTGGTCTTACAGCGCCTCTACAGAAACCATGACT230     SerGlyAlaTrpSerTyrSerAlaSerThrGluThrMetThr     1510     TTTGATGATGCCAGTGCTTATTGCCAGCAGAGGTACACACAT272     PheAspAspAlaSerAlaTyrCysGlnGlnArgTyrThrHis     152025     CTGGTCGCAATTCAAAACCATGCAGAGATTGAATACCTGAAC314     LeuValAlaIleGlnAsnHisAlaGluIleGluTyrLeuAsn     3035     TCCACGTTCAACTATTCAGCAAGTTACTACTGGATTGGAATC356     SerThrPheAsnTyrSerAlaSerTyrTyrTrpIleGlyIle     404550     AGGAAGATCAATGGTACATGGACATGGATAGGGACCAAGAAG398     ArgLysIleAsnGlyThrTrpThrTrpIleGlyThrLysLys     556065     GCCTTGACCCCAGAGGCCACCAACTGGGCTCCAGGTGAACCA440     AlaLeuThrProGluAlaThrAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluPro     707580     AATAATAAGCAAAGCAATGAGGACTGTGTAGAGATCTACATC482     AsnAsnLysGlnSerAsnGluAspCysValGluIleTyrIle     859095     AAGAGAGACAAGGACTCGGGCAAGTGGAATGATGAGAGATGC524     LysArgAspLysAspSerGlyLysTrpAsnAspGluArgCys     100105     AGCAAAAAGAAGCTCGCCTTGTGCTACACAGCTGCCTGTACC566     SerLysLysLysLeuAlaLeuCysTyrThrAlaAlaCysThr     110115120     CCTACATCCTGCAGCGGCCATGGTGAATGCATAGAGACCATC608     ProThrSerCysSerGlyHisGlyGluCysIleGluThrIle     125130135     AATAGCTCTACTTGCCAGTGCTACCCCGGCTTCCGAGGCCTC650     AsnSerSerThrCysGlnCysTyrProGlyPheArgGlyLeu     140145150     CAGTGTGAGCAAGTGGTTGAGTGTGATGCTTTGGAAAATCCT692     GlnCysGluGlnValValGluCysAspAlaLeuGluAsnPro     155160165     GTCAACGGAGTCGTGACATGTCCCCAAAGCCTCCCATGGAAC734     ValAsnGlyValValThrCysProGlnSerLeuProTrpAsn     170175     ACAACCTGTGCATTTGAGTGTAAGGAAGGATTTGAACTCATT776     ThrThrCysAlaPheGluCysLysGluGlyPheGluLeuIle     180185190     GGACCTGAGCACCTGCAATGTACCTCATCTGGGAGCTGGGAC818     GlyProGluHisLeuGlnCysThrSerSerGlySerTrpAsp     195200205     GGCAAGAAGCCAACGTGTAAAGCTGTGACATGTGACACCGTC860     GlyLysLysProThrCysLysAlaValThrCysAspThrVal     210215220     GGCCATCCTCAGAATGGTGATGTGAGTTGTAACCACTCCTCT902     GlyHisProGlnAsnGlyAspValSerCysAsnHisSerSer     225230235     ATTGGAGAGTTTGCCTACAAGTCAACCTGCCACTTCACCTGT944     IleGlyGluPheAlaTyrLysSerThrCysHisPheThrCys     240245     GCAGAAGGCTTCGGGCTGCAGGGGCCAGCCCAGATTGAATGC986     AlaGluGlyPheGlyLeuGlnGlyProAlaGlnIleGluCys     250255260     ACTGCCCAGGGGCAATGGACCCAGCAAGCCCCAGTTTGTAAA1028     ThrAlaGlnGlyGlnTrpThrGlnGlnAlaProValCysLys     265270275     GCTGTGAAATGTCCTGCTGTCTCCCAGCCCAAGAATGGCTTG1070     AlaValLysCysProAlaValSerGlnProLysAsnGlyLeu     280285290     GTGAAGTTTACCCATTCCCCGACTGGAGAGTTTACCTACAAG1112     ValLysPheThrHisSerProThrGlyGluPheThrTyrLys     295300305     TCCTCCTGTGCCTTCAGCTGTGAGGAAGGCTTTGAATTACGT1154     SerSerCysAlaPheSerCysGluGluGlyPheGluLeuArg     310315     GGATCAGCTCAACTTGCATGCACATCTCAAGGACAATGGACA1196     GlySerAlaGlnLeuAlaCysThrSerGlnGlyGlnTrpThr     320325330     CAGGAGGTTCCCTCCTGCCAAGTGGTACAGTGTTCAAGTTTG1238     GlnGluValProSerCysGlnValValGlnCysSerSerLeu     335340345     GAGGTTCCCAGAGAGATCAACATGAGCTGCAGTGGGGAGCCC1280     GluValProArgGluIleAsnMetSerCysSerGlyGluPro     350355360     GTGTTTGGTGCTGTGTGTACATTTGCCTGTCCTGAAGGATGG1322     ValPheGlyAlaValCysThrPheAlaCysProGluGlyTrp     365370375     ATGCTCAATGGCTCTGTAGCTCTGACGTGTGGTGCCACAGGA1364     MetLeuAsnGlySerValAlaLeuThrCysGlyAlaThrGly     380385     CACTGGTCTGGGATGCTGCCTACTTGTGAAGCTCCTGCTGAG1406     HisTrpSerGlyMetLeuProThrCysGluAlaProAlaGlu     390395400     TCCAAAATTCCCTTGGCAATGGGACTTGCTGCTGGTGGAGTC1448     SerLysIleProLeuAlaMetGlyLeuAlaAlaGlyGlyVal     405410415     TCCTTCATGACATCAGCATCATTTCTCCTCTGGCTCCTGAAA1490     SerPheMetThrSerAlaSerPheLeuLeuTrpLeuLeuLys     420425430     CGCCTTCGGAAGAGAGCAAAAAAATTTGTTCCTTCCAGCAGC1532     ArgLeuArgLysArgAlaLysLysPheValProSerSerSer     435440445     TCCGAATGCCTTCAACCCAATGGATCCTACCAAATGCCTTCT1574     SerGluCysLeuGlnProAsnGlySerTyrGlnMetProSer     450455     GACTTAATTTAAGTCCAA1592     AspLeuIle     460     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 23 bases     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucleotide primer     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: No     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     TAYTACTGGATWGGRATCMGRAA23     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 29 bases     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucleotide primer     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: Yes     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     CTCTTGATRTAKATCTCCACRCAGTCCTC29     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 4059 base pairs     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double     (D) TOPOLOGY: Circular     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Apex-1 Eukaryotic     Expression Vector     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     ACGCGTTGACATTGATTATTGACTAGTTATTAATAGTAATCAATTACGGG50     GTCATTAGTTCATAGCCCATATATGGAGTTCCGCGTTACATAACTTACGG100     TAAATGGCCCCGCCTGGCTGACCGCCCAACGACCCCCGCCCATTGACGTC150     AATAATGACGTATGTTCCCATAGTAACGCCAATAGGGACTTTCCATTGAC200     GTCAATGGGTGGACTATTTACGGTAAACTGCCCACTTGGCAGTACATCAA250     GTGTATCATATGCCAAGTACGCCCCCTATTGACGTCAATGACGGTAAATG300     GCCCGCCTGGCATTATGCCCAGTACATGACCTTATGGGACTTTCCTACTT350     GGCAGTACATCTACGTATTAGTCATCGCTATTACCATGGTGATGCGGTTT400     TGGCAGTACATCAATGGGCGTGGATAGCGGTTTGACTCACGGGGATTTCC450     AAGTCTCCACCCCATTGACGTCAATGGGAGTTTGTTTTGGCACCAAAATC500     AACGGGACTTTCCAAAATGTCGTAACAACTCCGCCCCATTGACGCAAATG550     GGCGGTAGGCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGT600     GAACCGTCAGAATTCTGTTGGGCTCGCGGTTGATTACAAACTCTTCGCGG650     TCTTTCCAGTACTCTTGGATCGGAAACCCGTCGGCCTCCGAACGGTACTC700     CGCCACCGAGGGACCTGAGCGAGTCCGCATCGACCGGATCGGAAAACCTC750     TCGACTGTTGGGGTGAGTACTCCCTCTCAAAAGCGGGCATGACTTCTGCG800     CTAAGATTGTCAGTTTCCAAAAACGAGGAGGATTTGATATTCACCTGGCC850     CGCGGTGATGCCTTTGAGGGTGGCCGCGTCCATCTGGTCAGAAAAGACAA900     TCTTTTTGTTGTCAAGCTTGAGGTGTGGCAGGCTTGAGATCTGGCCATAC950     ACTTGAGTGACAATGACATCCACTTTGCCTTTCTCTCCACAGGTGTCCAC1000     TCCCAGGTCCAACTGCAGGTCGACCGGCTTGGTACCGAGCTCGGATCCAC1050     TAGTAACGGCCGCCAGTGTGCTGGAATTCTGCAGATATCCATCACACTGG1100     CGGCCGCTCGAGCATGCATCTAGAACTTGTTTATTGCAGCTTATAATGGT1150     TACAAATAAAGCAATAGCATCACAAATTTCACAAATAAAGCATTTTTTTC1200     ACTGCATTCTAGTTGTGGTTTGTCCAAACTCATCAATGTATCTTATCATG1250     TCTGGATCGATCCCGCCATGGTATCAACGCCATATTTCTATTTACAGTAG1300     GGACCTCTTCGTTGTGTAGGTACCGCTGTATTCCTAGGGAAATAGTAGAG1350     GCACCTTGAACTGTCTGCATCAGCCATATAGCCCCCGCTGTTCGACTTAC1400     AAACACAGGCACAGTACTGACAAACCCATACACCTCCTCTGAAATACCCA1450     TAGTTGCTAGGGCTGTCTCCGAACTCATTACACCCTCCAAAGTCAGAGCT1500     GTAATTTCGCCATCAAGGGCAGCGAGGGCTTCTCCAGATAAAATAGCTTC1550     TGCCGAGAGTCCCGTAAGGGTAGACACTTCAGCTAATCCCTCGATGAGGT1600     CTACTAGAATAGTCAGTGCGGCTCCCATTTTGAAAATTCACTTACTTGAT1650     CAGCTTCAGAAGATGGCGGAGGGCCTCCAACACAGTAATTTTCCTCCCGA1700     CTCTTAAAATAGAAAATGTCAAGTCAGTTAAGCAGGAAGTGGACTAACTG1750     ACGCAGCTGGCCGTGCGACATCCTCTTTTAATTAGTTGCTAGGCAACGCC1800     CTCCAGAGGGCGTGTGGTTTTGCAAGAGGAAGCAAAAGCCTCTCCACCCA1850     GGCCTAGAATGTTTCCACCCAATCATTACTATGACAACAGCTGTTTTTTT1900     TAGTATTAAGCAGAGGCCGGGGACCCCTGGGCCCGCTTACTCTGGAGAAA1950     AAGAAGAGAGGCATTGTAGAGGCTTCCAGAGGCAACTTGTCAAAACAGGA2000     CTGCTTCTATTTCTGTCACACTGTCTGGCCCTGTCACAAGGTCCAGCACC2050     TCCATACCCCCTTTAATAAGCAGTTTGGGAACGGGTGCGGGTCTTACTCC2100     GCCCATCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCAGTTCCGCCCATTCTCCGCCCCATG2150     GCTGACTAATTTTTTTTATTTATGCAGAGGCCGAGGCCGCCTCGGCCTCT2200     GAGCTATTCCAGAAGTAGTGAGGAGGCTTTTTTGGAGGCCTAGGCTTTTG2250     CAAAAAGGAGCTCCCAGCAAAAGGCCAGGAACCGTAAAAAGGCCGCGTTG2300     CTGGCGTTTTTCCATAGGCTCCGCCCCCCTGACGAGCATCACAAAAATCG2350     ACGCTCAAGTCAGAGGTGGCGAAACCCGACAGGACTATAAAGATACCAGG2400     CGTTTCCCCCTGGAAGCTCCCTCGTGCGCTCTCCTGTTCCGACCCTGCCG2450     CTTACCGGATACCTGTCCGCCTTTCTCCCTTCGGGAAGCGTGGCGCTTTC2500     TCAATGCTCACGCTGTAGGTATCTCAGTTCGGTGTAGGTCGTTCGCTCCA2550     AGCTGGGCTGTGTGCACGAACCCCCCGTTCAGCCCGACCGCTGCGCCTTA2600     TCCGGTAACTATCGTCTTGAGTCCAACCCGGTAAGACACGACTTATCGCC2650     ACTGGCAGCAGCCACTGGTAACAGGATTAGCAGAGCGAGGTATGTAGGCG2700     GTGCTACAGAGTTCTTGAAGTGGTGGCCTAACTACGGCTACACTAGAAGG2750     ACAGTATTTGGTATCTGCGCTCTGCTGAAGCCAGTTACCTTCGGAAAAAG2800     AGTTGGTAGCTCTTGATCCGGCAAACAAACCACCGCTGGTAGCGGTGGTT2850     TTTTTGTTTGCAAGCAGCAGATTACGCGCAGAAAAAAAGGATCTCAAGAA2900     GATCCTTTGATCTTTTCTACGGGGTCTGACGCTCAGTGGAACGAAAACTC2950     ACGTTAAGGGATTTTGGTCATGAGATTATCAAAAAGGATCTTCACCTAGA3000     TCCTTTTAAATTAAAAATGAAGTTTTAAATCAATCTAAAGTATATATGAG3050     TAAACTTGGTCTGACAGTTACCAATGCTTAATCAGTGAGGCACCTATCTC3100     AGCGATCTGTCTATTTCGTTCATCCATAGTTGCCTGACTCCCCGTCGTGT3150     AGATAACTACGATACGGGAGGGCTTACCATCTGGCCCCAGTGCTGCAATG3200     ATACCGCGAGACCCACGCTCACCGGCTCCAGATTTATCAGCAATAAACCA3250     GCCAGCCGGAAGGGCCGAGCGCAGAAGTGGTCCTGCAACTTTATCCGCCT3300     CCATCCAGTCTATTAATTGTTGCCGGGAAGCTAGAGTAAGTAGTTCGCCA3350     GTTAATAGTTTGCGCAACGTTGTTGCCATTGCTACAGGCATCGTGGTGTC3400     ACGCTCGTCGTTTGGTATGGCTTCATTCAGCTCCGGTTCCCAACGATCAA3450     GGCGAGTTACATGATCCCCCATGTTGTGCAAAAAAGCGGTTAGCTCCTTC3500     GGTCCTCCGATCGTTGTCAGAAGTAAGTTGGCCGCAGTGTTATCACTCAT3550     GGTTATGGCAGCACTGCATAATTCTCTTACTGTCATGCCATCCGTAAGAT3600     GCTTTTCTGTGACTGGTGAGTACTCAACCAAGTCATTCTGAGAATAGTGT3650     ATGCGGCGACCGAGTTGCTCTTGCCCGGCGTCAATACGGGATAATACCGC3700     GCCACATAGCAGAACTTTAAAAGTGCTCATCATTGGAAAACGTTCTTCGG3750     GGCGAAAACTCTCAAGGATCTTACCGCTGTTGAGATCCAGTTCGATGTAA3800     CCCACTCGTGCACCCAACTGATCTTCAGCATCTTTTACTTTCACCAGCGT3850     TTCTGGGTGAGCAAAAACAGGAAGGCAAAATGCCGCAAAAAAGGGAATAA3900     GGGCGACACGGAAATGTTGAATACTCATACTCTTCCTTTTTCAATATTAT3950     TGAAGCATTTATCAGGGTTATTGTCTCATGAGCGGATACATATTTGAATG4000     TATTTAGAAAAATAAACAAATAGGGGTTCCGCGCACATTTCCCCGAAAAG4050     TGCCACCTG4059     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 24 bases     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucleotide primer     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: No     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:     GGAGAGTTTGCCTACAAGTCAACC24     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 58 bases     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucleotide primer     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: Yes     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:     CCCGAATTCCTGCAGGTTAATGGTGATGGTGATGGTGTTTGGACTCAGCA50     GGAGCTTC58     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 275 base pairs     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double     (D) TOPOLOGY: Circular     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: pGEM-7Zf(+)446/483     insert     (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: No     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:     CATGCACATCTCAAGGACAATGGACACAGGAGGTTCCCTCCTGCCAAGTG50     GTACAGTGTTCAAGTTTGGAGGTTCCCAGAGAGATCAACATGAGCTGCAG100     TGGGGAGCCCGTGTTTGGTGCTGTGTGTACATTTGCCTGTCCTGAAGGAT150     GGATGCTCAATGGCTCTGTAGCTCTGACGTGTGGTGCCACAGGACACTGG200     TCTGGGATCCTGCCTACTTGTGAAGCTCCTGCTGAGTCCAAACACCATCA250     CCATCACCATTAACCTGCAGGAATT275     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 8932 base pairs     (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double     (D) TOPOLOGY: Circular     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     (A) DESCRIPTION: Apex-3 Eukaryotic     Expression Vector     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:     GTGACCAATACAAAACAAAAGCGCCCCTCGTACCAGCGAAGAAGGGGCAG50     AGATGCCGTAGTCAGGTTTAGTTCGTCCGGCGGCGGGGGATCTGTATGGT100     GCACTCTCAGTACAATCTGCTCTGATGCCGCATAGTTAAGCCAGTATCTG150     CTCCCTGCTTGTGTGTTGGAGGTCGCTGAGTAGTGCGCGAGCAAAATTTA200     AGCTACAACAAGGCAAGGCTTGACCGACAATTGCATGAAGAATCTGCTTA250     GGGTTAGGCGTTTTGCGCTGCTTCGCGATGTACGGGCCAGATATACGCGT300     TGACATTGATTATTGACTAGTTATTAATAGTAATCAATTACGGGGTCATT350     AGTTCATAGCCCATATATGGAGTTCCGCGTTACATAACTTACGGTAAATG400     GCCCGCCTGGCTGACCGCCCAACGACCCCCGCCCATTGACGTCAATAATG450     ACGTATGTTCCCATAGTAACGCCAATAGGGACTTTCCATTGACGTCAATG500     GGTGGACTATTTACGGTAAACTGCCCACTTGGCAGTACATCAAGTGTATC550     ATATGCCAAGTACGCCCCCTATTGACGTCAATGACGGTAAATGGCCCGCC600     TGGCATTATGCCCAGTACATGACCTTATGGGACTTTCCTACTTGGCAGTA650     CATCTACGTATTAGTCATCGCTATTACCATGGTGATGCGGTTTTGGCAGT700     ACATCAATGGGCGTGGATAGCGGTTTGACTCACGGGGATTTCCAAGTCTC750     CACCCCATTGACGTCAATGGGAGTTTGTTTTGGCACCAAAATCAACGGGA800     CTTTCCAAAATGTCGTAACAACTCCGCCCCATTGACGCAAATGGGCGGTA850     GGCGTGTACGGTGGGAGGTCTATATAAGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGTGAACCGT900     CAGAATTCTGTTGGGCTCGCGGTTGATTACAAACTCTTCGCGGTCTTTCC950     AGTACTCTTGGATCGGAAACCCGTCGGCCTCCGAACGGTACTCCGCCACC1000     GAGGGACCTGAGCGAGTCCGCATCGACCGGATCGGAAAACCTCTCGACTG1050     TTGGGGTGAGTACTCCCTCTCAAAAGCGGGCATGACTTCTGCGCTAAGAT1100     TGTCAGTTTCCAAAAACGAGGAGGATTTGATATTCACCTGGCCCGCGGTG1150     ATGCCTTTGAGGGTGGCCGCGTCCATCTGGTCAGAAAAGACAATCTTTTT1200     GTTGTCAAGCTTGAGGTGTGGCAGGCTTGAGATCTGGCCATACACTTGAG1250     TGACAATGACATCCACTTTGCCTTTCTCTCCACAGGTGTCCACTCCCAGG1300     TCCAACTGCAGGTCGACCGGCTTGGTACCGAGCTCGGATCCTCTAGAGTC1350     GACCTGCAGGCATGCAAGCTTGGCACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACAACGTCGTG1400     ACTGGGAAAACCCTGGCGTTACCCAACTTAATCGCCTTGCAGCACATCCC1450     CCTTTCGCCAGCTGGCGTAATAGCGAAGAGGCCCGCACCGATCCAGACAT1500     GATAAGATACATTGATGAGTTTGGACAAACCACAACTAGAATGCAGTGAA1550     AAAAATGCTTTATTTGTGAAATTTGTGATGCTATTGCTTTATTTGTAACC1600     ATTATAAGCTGCAATAAACAAGTTAACAACAACAATTGCATTCATTTTAT1650     GTTTCAGGTTCAGGGGGAGGTGTGGGAGGTTTTTTAAAGCAAGTAAAACC1700     TCTACAAATGTGGTATGGCTGATTATGATCCCCAGGAAGCTCCTCTGTGT1750     CCTCATAAACCCTAACCTCCTCTACTTGAGAGGACATTCCAATCATAGGC1800     TGCCCATCCACCCTCTGTGTCCTCCTGTTAATTAGGTCACTTAACAAAAA1850     GGAAATTGGGTAGGGGTTTTTCACAGACCGCTTTCTAAGGGTAATTTTAA1900     AATATCTGGGAAGTCCCTTCCACTGCTGTGTTCCAGAAGTGTTGGTAAAC1950     AGCCCACAAATGTCAACAGCAGAAACATACAAGCTGTCAGCTTTGCACAA2000     GGGCCCAACACCCTGCTCATCAAGAAGCACTGTGGTTGCTGTGTTAGTAA2050     TGTGCAAAACAGGAGGCACATTTTCCCCACCTGTGTAGGTTCCAAAATAT2100     CTAGTGTTTTCATTTTTACTTGGATCAGGAACCCAGCACTCCACTGGATA2150     AGCATTATCCTTATCCAAAACAGCCTTGTGGTCAGTGTTCATCTGCTGAC2200     TGTCAACTGTAGCATTTTTTGGGGTTACAGTTTGAGCAGGATATTTGGTC2250     CTGTAGTTTGCTAACACACCCTGCAGCTCCAAAGGTTCCCCACCAACAGC2300     AAAAAAATGAAAATTTGACCCTTGAATGGGTTTTCCAGCACCATTTTCAT2350     GAGTTTTTTGTGTCCCTGAATGCAAGTTTAACATAGCAGTTACCCCAATA2400     ACCTCAGTTTTAACAGTAACAGCTTCCCACATCAAAATATTTCCACAGGT2450     TAAGTCCTCATTTAAATTAGGCAAAGGAATTCCTCGACCTGCAGCCCAAG2500     CTTGGCACTGGCGCCAGAAATCCGCGCGGTGGTTTTTGGGGGTCGGGGGT2550     GTTTGGCAGCCACAGACGCCCGGTGTTCGTGTCGCGCCAGTACATGCGGT2600     CCATGCCCAGGCCATCCAAAAACCATGGGTCTGTCTGCTCAGTCCAGTCG2650     TGGACCTGACCCCACGCAACGCCCAAAAGAATAACCCCCACGAACCATAA2700     ACCATTCCCCATGGGGGACCCCGTCCCTAACCCACGGGGCCCGTGGCTAT2750     GGCGGGCTTGCCGCCCCGACGTTGGCTGCGAGCCCTGGGCCTTCACCCGA2800     ACTTGGGGGTTGGGGTGGGGAAAAGGAAGAAACGCGGGCGTATTGGCCCC2850     AATGGGGTCTCGGTGGGGTATCGACAGAGTGCCAGCCCTGGGACCGAACC2900     CCGCGTTTATGAACAAACGACCCAACACCCGTGCGTTTTATTCTGTCTTT2950     TTATTGCCGTCATAGCGCGGGTTCCTTCCGGTATTGTCTCCTTCCGTGTT3000     TCAGTTAGCCTCCCCCATCTCCCGATCCCCACGAGTGCTGGGGCGTCGGT3050     TTCCACTATCGGCGAGTACTTCTACACAGCCATCGGTCCAGACGGCCGCG3100     CTTCTGCGGGCGATTTGTGTACGCCCGACAGTCCCGGCTCCGGATCGGAC3150     GATTGCGTCGCATCGACCCTGCGCCCAAGCTGCATCATCGAAATTGCCGT3200     CAACCAAGCTCTGATAGAGTTGGTCAAGACCAATGCGGAGCATATACGCC3250     CGGAGCCGCGGCGATCCTGCAAGCTCCGGATGCCTCCGCTCGAAGTAGCG3300     CGTCTGCTGCTCCATACAAGCCAACCACGGCCTCCAGAAGAAGATGTTGG3350     CGACCTCGTATTGGGAATCCCCGAACATCGCCTCGCTCCAGTCAATGACC3400     GCTGTTATGCGGCCATTGTCCGTCAGGACATTGTTGGAGCCGAAATCCGC3450     GTGCACGAGGTGCCGGACTTCGGGGCAGTCCTCGGCCCAAAGCATCAGCT3500     CATCGAGAGCCTGCGCGACGGACGCACTGACGGTGTCGTCCATCACAGTT3550     TGCCAGTGATACACATGGGGATCAGCAATCGCGCATATGAAATCACGCCA3600     TGTAGTGTATTGACCGATTCCTTGCGGTCCGAATGGGCCGAACCCGCTCG3650     TCTGGCTAAGATCGGCCGCAGCGATCGCATCCATGGCCTCCGCGACCGGC3700     TGCAGAACAGCGGGCAGTTCGGTTTCAGGCAGGTCTTGCAACGTGACACC3750     CTGTGCACGGCGGGAGATGCAATAGGTCAGGCTCTCGCTGAATTCCCCAA3800     TGTCAAGCACTTCCGGAATCGGGAGCGCGGCCGATGCAAAGTGCCGATAA3850     ACATAACGATCTTTGTAGAAACCATCGGCGCAGCTATTTACCCGCAGGAC3900     ATATCCACGCCCTCCTACATCGAAGCTGAAAGCACGAGATTCTTCGCCCT3950     CCGAGAGCTGCATCAGGTCGGAGACGCTGTCGAACTTTTCGATCAGAAAC4000     TTCTCGACAGACGTCGCGGTGAGTTCAGGCTTTTTCATATCAAGCTGATC4050     TTGCGGCACGCTGTTGACGCTGTTAAGCGGGTCGCTGCAGGGTCGCTCGG4100     TGTTCGAGGCCACACGCGTCACCTTAATATGCGAAGTGGACCTGGGACCG4150     CGCCGCCCCGACTGCATCTGCGTGTTCGAATTCGCCAATGACAAGACGCT4200     GGGCGGGGTTTGTGTCATCATAGAACTAAAGACATGCAAATATATTTCTT4250     CCGGGGACACCGCCAGCAAACGCGAGCAACGGGCCACGGGGATGAAGCAG4300     CCCGGCGGCACCTCGCTAACGGATTCACCACTCCAAGAATTGGAGCCAAT4350     CAATTCTTGCGGAGAACTGTGAATGCGCAAACCAACCCTTGGCAGAACAT4400     ATCCATCGCGTCCGCCATCTCCAGCAGCCGCACGCGGCGCATCTCGGGGC4450     CGACGCGCTGGGCTACGTCTTGCTGGCGTTCGCGACGCGAGGCTGGATGG4500     CCTTCCCCATTATGATTCTTCTCGCTTCCGGCGGCATCGGGATGCCCGCG4550     TTGCAGGCCATGCTGTCCAGGCAGGTAGATGACGACCATCAGGGACAGCT4600     TCAAGGATCGCTCGCGGCTCTTACCAGCGCCAGCAAAAGGCCAGGAACCG4650     TAAAAAGGCCGCGTTGCTGGCGTTTTTCCATAGGCTCCGCCCCCCTGACG4700     AGCATCACAAAAATCGACGCTCAAGTCAGAGGTGGCGAAACCCGACAGGA4750     CTATAAAGATACCAGGCGTTTCCCCCTGGAAGCTCCCTCGTGCGCTCTCC4800     TGTTCCGACCCTGCCGCTTACCGGATACCTGTCCGCCTTTCTCCCTTCGG4850     GAAGCGTGGCGCTTTCTCATAGCTCACGCTGTAGGTATCTCAGTTCGGTG4900     TAGGTCGTTCGCTCCAAGCTGGGCTGTGTGCACGAACCCCCCGTTCAGCC4950     CGACCGCTGCGCCTTATCCGGTAACTATCGTCTTGAGTCCAACCCGGTAA5000     GACACGACTTATCGCCACTGGCAGCAGCCACTGGTAACAGGATTAGCAGA5050     GCGAGGTATGTAGGCGGTGCTACAGAGTTCTTGAAGTGGTGGCCTAACTA5100     CGGCTACACTAGAAGGACAGTATTTGGTATCTGCGCTCTGCTGAAGCCAG5150     TTACCTTCGGAAAAAGAGTTGGTAGCTCTTGATCCGGCAAACAAACCACC5200     GCTGGTAGCGGTGGTTTTTTTGTTTGCAAGCAGCAGATTACGCGCAGAAA5250     AAAAGGATCTCAAGAAGATCCTTTGATCTTTTCTACGGGGTCTGACGCTC5300     AGTGGAACGAAAACTCACGTTAAGGGATTTTGGTCATGAGATTATCAAAA5350     AGGATCTTCACCTAGATCCTTTTAAATTAAAAATGAAGTTTTAAATCAAT5400     CTAAAGTATATATGAGTAAACTTGGTCTGACAGTTACCAATGCTTAATCA5450     GTGAGGCACCTATCTCAGCGATCTGTCTATTTCGTTCATCCATAGTTGCC5500     TGACTCCCCGTCGTGTAGATAACTACGATACGGGAGGGCTTACCATCTGG5550     CCCCAGTGCTGCAATGATACCGCGAGACCCACGCTCACCGGCTCCAGATT5600     TATCAGCAATAAACCAGCCAGCCGGAAGGGCCGAGCGCAGAAGTGGTCCT5650     GCAACTTTATCCGCCTCCATCCAGTCTATTAATTGTTGCCGGGAAGCTAG5700     AGTAAGTAGTTCGCCAGTTAATAGTTTGCGCAACGTTGTTGCCATTGCTG5750     CAGGCATCGTGGTGTCACGCTCGTCGTTTGGTATGGCTTCATTCAGCTCC5800     GGTTCCCAACGATCAAGGCGAGTTACATGATCCCCCATGTTGTGCAAAAA5850     AGCGGTTAGCTCCTTCGGTCCTCCGATCGTTGTCAGAAGTAAGTTGGCCG5900     CAGTGTTATCACTCATGGTTATGGCAGCACTGCATAATTCTCTTACTGTC5950     ATGCCATCCGTAAGATGCTTTTCTGTGACTGGTGAGTACTCAACCAAGTC6000     ATTCTGAGAATAGTGTATGCGGCGACCGAGTTGCTCTTGCCCGGCGTCAA6050     CACGGGATAATACCGCGCCACATAGCAGAACTTTAAAAGTGCTCATCATT6100     GGAAAACGTTCTTCGGGGCGAAAACTCTCAAGGATCTTACCGCTGTTGAG6150     ATCCAGTTCGATGTAACCCACTCGTGCACCCAACTGATCTTCAGCATCTT6200     TTACTTTCACCAGCGTTTCTGGGTGAGCAAAAACAGGAAGGCAAAATGCC6250     GCAAAAAAGGGAATAAGGGCGACACGGAAATGTTGAATACTCATACTCTT6300     CCTTTTTCAATATTATTGAAGCATTTATCAGGGTTATTGTCTCATGAGCG6350     GATACATATTTGAATGTATTTAGAAAAATAAACAAATAGGGGTTCCGCGC6400     ACATTTCCCCGAAAAGTGCCACCTGACGTCTAAGAAACCATTATTATCAT6450     GACATTAACCTATAAAAATAGGCGTATCACGAGGCCCTTTCGTCTTCAAG6500     AATTCTCATGTTTGACAGCTTATCGTAGACATCATGCGTGCTGTTGGTGT6550     ATTTCTGGCCATCTGTCTTGTCACCATTTTCGTCCTCCCAACATGGGGCA6600     ATTGGGCATACCCATGTTGTCACGTCACTCAGCTCCGCGCTCAACACCTT6650     CTCGCGTTGGAAAACATTAGCGACATTTACCTGGTGAGCAATCAGACATG6700     CGACGGCTTTAGCCTGGCCTCCTTAAATTCACCTAAGAATGGGAGCAACC6750     AGCAGGAAAAGGACAAGCAGCGAAAATTCACGCCCCCTTGGGAGGTGGCG6800     GCATATGCAAAGGATAGCACTCCCACTCTACTACTGGGTATCATATGCTG6850     ACTGTATATGCATGAGGATAGCATATGCTACCCGGATACAGATTAGGATA6900     GCATATACTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCATATGCTACCCAGATATA6950     GATTAGGATAGCCTATGCTACCCAGATATAAATTAGGATAGCATATACTA7000     CCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCATATGCTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATA7050     GCCTATGCTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCATATGCTACCCAGATATA7100     GATTAGGATAGCATATGCTATCCAGATATTTGGGTAGTATATGCTACCCA7150     GATATAAATTAGGATAGCATATACTACCCTAATCTCTATTAGGATAGCAT7200     ATGCTACCCGGATACAGATTAGGATAGCATATACTACCCAGATATAGATT7250     AGGATAGCATATGCTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCCTATGCTACCCA7300     GATATAAATTAGGATAGCATATACTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCAT7350     ATGCTACCCAGATATAGATTAGGATAGCCTATGCTACCCAGATATAGATT7400     AGGATAGCATATGCTATCCAGATATTTGGGTAGTATATGCTACCCATGGC7450     AACATTAGCCCACCGTGCTCTCAGCGACCTCGTGAATATGAGGACCAACA7500     ACCCTGTGCTTGGCGCTCAGGCGCAAGTGTGTGTAATTTGTCCTCCAGAT7550     CGCAGCAATCGCGCCCCTATCTTGGCCCGCCCACCTACTTATGCAGGTAT7600     TCCCCGGGGTGCCATTAGTGGTTTTGTGGGCAAGTGGTTTGACCGCAGTG7650     GTTAGCGGGGTTACAATCAGCCAAGTTATTACACCCTTATTTTACAGTCC7700     AAAACCGCAGGGCGGCGTGTGGGGGCTGACGCGTGCCCCCACTCCACAAT7750     TTCAAAAAAAAGAGTGGCCACTTGTCTTTGTTTATGGGCCCCATTGGCGT7800     GGAGCCCCGTTTAATTTTCGGGGGTGTTAGAGACAACCAGTGGAGTCCGC7850     TGCTGTCGGCGTCCACTCTCTTTCCCCTTGTTACAAATAGAGTGTAACAA7900     CATGGTTCACCTGTCTTGGTCCCTGCCTGGGACACATCTTAATAACCCCA7950     GTATCATATTGCACTAGGATTATGTGTTGCCCATAGCCATAAATTCGTGT8000     GAGATGGACATCCAGTCTTTACGGCTTGTCCCCACCCCATGGATTTCTAT8050     TGTTAAAGATATTCAGAATGTTTCATTCCTACACTAGTATTTATTGCCCA8100     AGGGGTTTGTGAGGGTTATATTGGTGTCATAGCACAATGCCACCACTGAA8150     CCCCCCGTCCAAATTTTATTCTGGGGGCGTCACCTGAAACCTTGTTTTCG8200     AGCACCTCACATACACCTTACTGTTCACAACTCAGCAGTTATTCTATTAG8250     CTAAACGAAGGAGAATGAAGAAGCAGGCGAAGATTCAGGAGAGTTCACTG8300     CCCGCTCCTTGATCTTCAGCCACTGCCCTTGTGACTAAAATGGTTCACTA8350     CCCTCGTGGAATCCTGACCCCATGTAAATAAAACCGTGACAGCTCATGGG8400     GTGGGAGATATCGCTGTTCCTTAGGACCCTTTTACTAACCCTAATTCGAT8450     AGCATATGCTTCCCGTTGGGTAACATATGCTATTGAATTAGGGTTAGTCT8500     GGATAGTATATACTACTACCCGGGAAGCATATGCTACCCGTTTAGGGTTA8550     ACAAGGGGGCCTTATAAACACTATTGCTAATGCCCTCTTGAGGGTCCGCT8600     TATCGGTAGCTACACAGGCCCCTCTGATTGACGTTGGTGTAGCCTCCCGT8650     AGTCTTCCTGGGCCCCTGGGAGGTACATGTCCCCCAGCATTGGTGTAAGA8700     GCTTCAGCCAAGAGTTACACATAAAGGCAATGTTGTGTTGCAGTCCACAG8750     ACTGCAAAGTCTGCTCCAGGATGAAAGCCACTCAGTGTTGGCAAATGTGC8800     ACATCCATTTATAAGGATGTCAACTACAGTCAGAGAACCCCTTTGTGTTT8850     GGTCCCCCCCCGTGTCACATGTGGAACAGGGCCCAGTTGGCAAGTTGTAC8900     CAACCAACTGAAGGGATTACATGCACTGCCCC8932     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 484 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single     (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA     (A) DESCRIPTION: predicted amino acid sequence of     Porcine E- selectin     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:     MetIleAlaSerGln     20     PheLeuSerAlaLeuProLeuValLeuLeuLeuLeuArgGlu     15-10-5     SerGlyAlaTrpSerTyrSerAlaSerThrGluThrMetThr     1510     PheAspAspAlaSerAlaTyrCysGlnGlnArgTyrThrHis     152025     LeuValAlaIleGlnAsnHisAlaGluIleGluTyrLeuAsn     3035     SerThrPheAsnTyrSerAlaSerTyrTyrTrpIleGlyIle     404550     ArgLysIleAsnGlyThrTrpThrTrpIleGlyThrLysLys     556065     AlaLeuThrProGluAlaThrAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluPro     707580     AsnAsnLysGlnSerAsnGluAspCysValGluIleTyrIle     859095     LysArgAspLysAspSerGlyLysTrpAsnAspGluArgCys     100105     SerLysLysLysLeuAlaLeuCysTyrThrAlaAlaCysThr     110115120     ProThrSerCysSerGlyHisGlyGluCysIleGluThrIle     125130135     AsnSerSerThrCysGlnCysTyrProGlyPheArgGlyLeu     140145150     GlnCysGluGlnValValGluCysAspAlaLeuGluAsnPro     155160165     ValAsnGlyValValThrCysProGlnSerLeuProTrpAsn     170175     ThrThrCysAlaPheGluCysLysGluGlyPheGluLeuIle     180185190     GlyProGluHisLeuGlnCysThrSerSerGlySerTrpAsp     195200205     GlyLysLysProThrCysLysAlaValThrCysAspThrVal     210215220     GlyHisProGlnAsnGlyAspValSerCysAsnHisSerSer     225230235     IleGlyGluPheAlaTyrLysSerThrCysHisPheThrCys     240245     AlaGluGlyPheGlyLeuGlnGlyProAlaGlnIleGluCys     250255260     ThrAlaGlnGlyGlnTrpThrGlnGlnAlaProValCysLys     265270275     AlaValLysCysProAlaValSerGlnProLysAsnGlyLeu     280285290     ValLysPheThrHisSerProThrGlyGluPheThrTyrLys     295300305     SerSerCysAlaPheSerCysGluGluGlyPheGluLeuArg     310315     GlySerAlaGlnLeuAlaCysThrSerGlnGlyGlnTrpThr     320325330     GlnGluValProSerCysGlnValValGlnCysSerSerLeu     335340345     GluValProArgGluIleAsnMetSerCysSerGlyGluPro     350355360     ValPheGlyAlaValCysThrPheAlaCysProGluGlyTrp     365370375     MetLeuAsnGlySerValAlaLeuThrCysGlyAlaThrGly     380385     HisTrpSerGlyMetLeuProThrCysGluAlaProAlaGlu     390395400     SerLysIleProLeuAlaMetGlyLeuAlaAlaGlyGlyVal     405410415     SerPheMetThrSerAlaSerPheLeuLeuTrpLeuLeuLys     420425430     ArgLeuArgLysArgAlaLysLysPheValProSerSerSer     435440445     SerGluCysLeuGlnProAsnGlySerTyrGlnMetProSer     450455     AspLeuIle     460     __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising:(a) a sequence encoding a porcine E-selectin protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth as amino acids 1 to 405 of SEO ID NO:9; (b) a sequence complementary to (a); or (c) both (a) and (b); said molecule being substantially free of nucleic acid molecules not containing (a), (b), or (c).
 2. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein the sequence encoding porcine E-selectin comprises nucleotide 198 through nucleotide 1412 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. A nucleic acid vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 covalently and operatively linked to a second nucleic acid molecule so that a host cell containing the vector expresses porcine E-selectin.
 4. A recombinant host cell containing the vector of claim
 3. 5. A method for producing porcine E-selectin comprising growing recombinant host cells containing the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 such that the protein encoded by the nucleic acid molecule is expressed by the host cells, and isolating the expressed porcine E-selectin.
 6. Clone Porcine E-selectin/pBLUESCRIPT SK⁻ having ATCC deposit designation number
 69616. 